Review: Lovelorn Dolls – 'Japanese Robot Invasion'

LOVELORN DOLLS
'Japanese Robot Invasion'
ALFA MATRIX

Belgian gothic/industrial rock duo Lovelorn Dolls return with their sophomore outing, 'Japanese Robot Invasion'. Featuring a stronger leaning towards their electronic side, the album is just as dark and twisted as their début albeit in a more focussed and atmospheric way. The dynamic of the songs is stronger, and the duo of Ladyhell and Corpus Christi look to solidify their presence.

The album opens with 'Happy Valentine', with it's simple music box melody counterpointed by the hard guitars and mix of dark and light vocals it evokes a grittier take on The Birthday Massacre with a little Jack Off Jill thrown in for good measure. Songs such as 'The Thrill', 'Japanese Robot Invasion', 'Miss Friday Night', 'Blood Moon' and 'Wolf Inside' follow the formula set out in the opening track mixing the guitars against dance orientated synths to create something semi-dance friendly but nonetheless very infectious.

It doesn't always work though as the lack lustre cover of The Cure's 'Just Like Heaven' goes to show. Lovelorn Dolls are at their best when they don't pull their punches and really push themselves to expand their core sound, such as on the sumptuous 'Jasmina'. Luckily though at ten tracks in total, there are plenty more hits than misses.

The production for the most part is pretty solid. It has an air of the late 90s / early 00s industrial rock sound more readily identified with Kidney Thieves and Orgy, which isn't a bad thing. In fact it gives the album an air of comforting familiarity.

'Japanese Robot Invasion' is a definite step in the right direction for Lovlorn Dolls. When they get that high octane mix of hard guitars, haunting vocals and dance synths going they sound great. There are still a few points that could have used a little more work, but at the end of the day this is a good album that will have plenty of appeal.  

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Lovelorn Dolls release video for 'After Dark'

Belgian gothic metal band Lovelorn Dolls have release a video in support for their 'After Dark' EP, taken from their album 'The House of Wonders', which was released earlier this year on Alfa Matrix.

The new video was animated and directed by Emily Weeks and the concept and story was arranged by Lovelorn Dolls' Kristell Lowagie with Weeks while the track was mastered by Victor Love from Dope Stars Inc.

The 'After Dark' EP is available now from Alfa Matrix. For more information on the band, please visit their official website.

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Lovelorn Dolls release video for 'Purple'

Brussels-based goth metallers Lovelorn Dolls have released a music video for the song 'Purple' from their forthcoming début album 'House Of Wonders'. 

The album will be released on March 15^th through Alfa Matrix records as both a standard CD and limited box edition which will include a bonus remix CD with contributions from the likes of Helalyn Flowers, Junksista, Essence Of Mind, Diffuzion, Psy'aviah, Acylum, Implant, Diskonnekted and Mari Chrome

Track List:

CD1: 'The House Of Wonders'
1. House of Wonders (intro)
2. After Dark
3. Purple
4. Save me from Myself
5. Mother of the Universe
6. Frozen Inside
7. Aux Dieux
8. No-Life
9. Feel Myself with You
10. Inside my Head
11. Euphoria
12. In your Room
13. Rats
14. Final Curtain (outro)
    
    
    CD2: 'The Distorted Alley' – bonus disc

1. Save Me From Myself (unplugged version)
2. After dark (Junksista deathproof Remix)
3. Purple (Helalyn Flowers Remix)
4. Mother Of The Universe (HellSector Mix)
5. After Dark (Essence Of Mind Remix)
6. No-Life (Diffuzion Remix)
7. Purple (Psy’Aviah Remix)
8. After Dark (Mari Chrome Remix)
9. No-Life (Acylum Remix)
10. Aux Dieux (Implant Remix)
11. No-Life (Diskonnekted Remix)

For more information on Lovelorn Dolls, please visit their Facebook page.

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