Review | Liv Kristine – Amor Vincit Omnia

Metalville Records

`Amor Vincit Omnia’, the brand-new offering of Liv Kristine, showcases one of metal’s most influential singers to step up and redefine the style she embraced during her gradual growth of expertise as a performer and songwriter. On the new album she clearly and boldly underlines her enduring passion and artistic evolution, as well as her daunting vocal qualities. Just two years after the release of `River of Diamonds’, the Norwegian Grande Dame returns with a captivating blend of classic dark rock, doom elements, and pop sensibilities showcasing her remarkable vocal prowess and song writing skills.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

From the opening notes of the echoing chanted ,,Prelude’’ Kristine brings her frailty and wonderful clean pitched register forward. The track’s haunting conclusion and its solitary heartbeat, sets the tone for an album that delves deep into themes of life, love, and nature. Kristine’s signature openness and connection with her audience shine through in every carefully crafted lyric and soaring melody. She blends her personality and twists the songs into form as displayed on the ‘opening’ title track. `Amor Vincit Omnia’ features a guest appearance by her husband Michael Espenæs, creating a mesmerizing “Beauty & the Beast” dynamic harkening back to Kristine’s debuting while pushing her sound forward.

She lays bare her soul with intense emotive power. Touching deep, she traverses her emotions and gripping inside your soul immediately. Her timbre frail, her radiance intense, she displays impressive resilience counter parting the roaring growls of Michael. The angelic chants are of operatic grandeur, adding to the rifting experience of the track.

THE ROOT OF THE ALBUM

This interplay of light and dark resonates at the root of the album, with tracks like the frail ,,12th February’’ with its jabbing piano strokes and techno modern drums and wavering strings, or subtle and touching ,,Angel in Disguise’’ with Liv’s crystal-clear voice permeating through the piano before harshly falling into a bliss of heavy riffing guitars atop the pulsating subtle groove. Both exploring life’s contrasts and the intricate relationship between earth and soul, stepping beyond her radiant, brought to life with impressive vocal performances, while bringing a touch of gloom forward blend into a mix of pop-related structures that nest on the spot. Impressive songs Liv, jaw dropping beautiful!

Standout tracks like the awesome tribal drummed ,,Tangerines’’ with its ceremonial stance and erupting guitars, and the wonderful strumming ,,Ode to Life Pristine’’ that is pulled forward by single drum strokes and raucous licks underneath Liv’s heart touching vocal delivery, pay homage to the natural world and personal growth. More tech and avantgarde, ,,Hold it with Your Life’’ is crafted atop a throbbing bass line and synth interacting with modern electronic drums. Suddenly blooming with impressive power, the song draws gothic and pop elements together, like binding Björk with Liv’s entire discography, morphing unique. ,,Unzip My Love’’ demonstrates Kristine’s knack for breath-taking directness while blending modern elements with strumming guitars and rocking beats. Extracting the modern elements Liv explores trip beats on the fresh and haunting ,,Melange (when Addiction calls)’’, with its kettle drum resonating deep strokes directly into your veins and spirit.

This is one of the album’s poetic moments elevating Liv’s creative prowess also found on ,,When Stillness Speaks’’, offering a gloomy dark counterpoint to the explorative compositions, creating a dynamic listening experience that rewards repeated spins.

A BRIDGE BETWEEN PAST AND PRESENT

,,Sapphire Heaven’’ serves as a brilliant bridge between Kristine’s previous work and this new release, showcasing her ability to evolve while maintaining the essence of her sound. Leaning on its wonderful piano theme transcending with dominant drum and keyboard lines, Liv Kristine entices with sultry delivery. She reverberates a luxurious light touch while vibrating the essence of the song’s deep textures and lyrical expose. The track exemplifies the luxury of emotional freedom that permeates the entire album, resulting in a truly unique and captivating mix of styles of her past and present.

Like on `River of Diamonds’ Liv Kristine’s latest work showcases her ability to craft intricate vocal melodies that nest perfectly within the instrumentation shaped by her band consisting of Tobias Glier (bass), Roland Bliesener (keyboard), Björn Etzel (drums) and creative partner Sascha Dannenberger (guitars). Liv uses a unique vocal flavor that is clean and clear, while it directly transcends with emotion on higher levels, connecting with the listener. Dannenberger’s production strikes a delicate balance between Kristine’s ethereal clean soprano and the heavier, doom-tinged heavy elements of the music. This interplay creates a rich tapestry of sound binding the listeners, making them reach for repeat.

LIV KRISTINE – THE CONCLUSION

With `Amor Vincit Omnia’ Liv Kristine has created a deeply personal and very universally resonant record that stands as her strongest solo work to date, topping its predecessor. It underscores her artistic vision and her ability to continually push the boundaries of her craft while staying true to her roots. Fans of symphonic metal, gothic rock, and emotive vocal performances will find much to love on this captivating musical journey. Must buy!

Release date: 18 April 2025