Konkurs

Lifelover is one of those bands you will either love or hate; their style is definitely not for everybody. Their exact genre is pretty hard to pin point, but could be described as a combination of depressive black metal, ambient, and post-punk (of all things). This gives Livelover a very unique and interesting sound that is easily recognizable, while this blending of very different genres might have garnered the band some criticism from elitists and the like, it gave the band a unique and distinct style that is completely their own and I have not heard any other band that sounds quite like Lifelover. Anyways on with the review, Konkurs is Lifelover's third full-length album, and I would say that this is quite an exceptional album and I would say this is their best to date.

The hardest thing for many to get into about Lifelover would be the vocals. The vocals range anywhere from whispers to black metal screeches to vocals that sound like they're on the verge of sobbing and even clean singing. Often times the vocals will have mood swings and swing from one style to another in a matter of seconds. While reading this you might think "crying" or "sobbing" vocals will just be over-dramatic and cheesy, but in the music they are surprisingly convincing and fit in extremely well into the music. The vocals help add to the overall bleak and depressive atmosphere of the album, and are an integral part of the music.

The first song on the album Shallow is good example of all their styles in one song, it has all the vocals styles and combines the black metal, post-punk, and it has an atmospheric and ambient outro all of which we will see on later songs. The rest of the songs vary, the first half of the album contains song somewhat similar to shallow, Konvulsion being an exception as the song is primarily softer. Many of these songs have mood changes in the music, what I mean is that the music will be soft and Kim the vocalist might be whispering or singing quietly and then will be screeching the next moment. This really gives a unique feeling to the music and adds to the overall effect, the mood swings feel so real as how someone who has clinical depression or other emotional problems might act.

The second half of the album is a complete change in pace from the first half. Musically this part of the album is much softer. The song Alltid - Aldrig is the the start of the second half and the perfect way to start. It is one of the most emotional songs I've ever heard and is a very depressing song, it is also my favorite song on the album it gets me every time I hear it, also this song still has harsher vocals which really add to the desperation and misery of the song. The next songs are all similar; original is an instrumental song and is pretty atmospheric. The exception to all this is the album closer Spiken I Kistan, which is similar to first half of the album and is a perfect way to end the album and has some of the best lyrics on the album and is a very emotional song. I really can't think of a better way to end the album.

Lyrically this album is really good. Only two of the songs are in English, the rest are in Swedish, but the translations can easily be found online and I recommend you do so as I find them to be work of genius and reading them while listening to the music enhances the effect. The lyrics deal with depression, drug abuse, happiness, joy, misery, and life. Overall the lyrics fit the music very well and only enhance the effect of the music.

It is very hard for me to find a fault with this music. All the parts of the album just come together so well. But for there is one hiccup on this album, and its the song Brand. Brand is the third track on the album and musically it is quite good and possibly the heaviest song on the album. What I don't like about the song though are the lyrics which are just childish in my opinion. Here's an example: "I am the fat stuck to your pizza plate, I am the hair that is stuck in your sink," anyways it’s only a minor hiccup and it is pretty easy to forget the lyrics to the song since it isn't in English.

Overall Konkurs is a monumental album and unique a experience. All the songs are important (except the final track which really isn't a song, just a minute of silence), and make up a musical journey like no other. This album conveys so many emotions such as depression and hopelessness to happiness and joy and can even switch between the two. It is a shame B (RIP) passed away and thus ended the band, but this album will always remain a masterpiece and is what I will remember the band by.