Lifelover - "Sjukdom" (2011) [Prophecy Productions]

My, how the mighty have fallen.

I remember the first time I gave Lifelover a serious listen: it was a cold fall evening in 2006, I had just moved and was rather vulnerable, switching high schools so late in the game and all, and their first album "Pulver" hit all the right nerves. It was aggressive, yet emotional and fragile, perhaps even progressive. Everything seemed overwhelming and this album spoke to me in ways other music couldn't. Hell, that first album opened my eyes to post-punk and new wave, which I don't think I could go without nowadays. "Erotik" was just as strong, if not more so, and "Konkurs," upon more listens, was a pretty solid goddamn album. 2009's "Dekadens" remains one of my favorites, complete with real drums, immensely catchy melodies and some of the most tortured vocals I've ever heard (eat your heart out, Silencer).

Riding on the coattails of "Dekadens", I had high hopes for "Sjukdom", especially with Lifelover's recent signing to the infamous Prophecy Productions. Even after the two songs "Totus Anctus" and "Expandera" were posted on their Facebook and being rather disappointed with the latter, I was still excited, hoping that "Expandera" would be that song that most albums have (you know, the one you always skip over). This album still had a chance to shine, and I was going to hope as hard as I could that it would be their best release yet.

Sadly, I was wrong. "Sjukdom" is the soundtrack to a band who has run out of ideas. As much as I hate to say it, I feel like I've heard these guys perform this album before. It is always a shame to see a band suffer from  "Motörhead syndrome", as a friend so aptly called it. I mean, don't get me wrong, the album has some gems like "Svart Galla", "Totus Anctus" and "Doften av Tomhet", but the poor outweighs the great on this album.


And does anyone want to tell me what's going on with those nu-metalish "ogre" vocals?


I really hate to say such negative things about a band I once loved, especially after the success of signing to such a successful label, but Lifelover's really reached the end of their rope. Dr. Rosenthal's prescription? Maybe they should finally come to the US and play a few shows here, then call it a day (that way Kim Carlsson can concentrate on making some more of those gigantic Hypothermia albums).


-Jon