Laudare - Reqiuem (2024) Hi-Res

From their record label, “We are happy to work with this gorgeous quartet for their new and upcoming album "Reqiuem" to be released in September. LAUDARE are kind of unique and describe their own sound as “violent poetry.” With a strong art-approach the four musicians combine Post Metal, Post Rock and some other genres.” It’s been quiet around LAUDARE lately: a new album is carving its way to the surface. A "Requiem" about the inevitable, that we fear so much and that makes us human after all. The self classification as “violent poetry” gets clearer with every song. Calm, melodic, spoken word passages as the poetry and harsh and hectic parts that mark the violent counterpart.

The album has ten songs, and “Introitus” is first. The music is indeed gentle, and quite beautiful, with a folky quality, piano and harmonized vocals. The anger is also quite evident when it arises without notice. The two styles work very well in the “violent poetry” moniker. “Dies Irae” comes out of the gates with more sonority, and perhaps more anger as well. The harsh vocals carry with them the weight of the burden of carrying so much hate around, while the cello notes are somewhat depressing. That is one instrument that is hard not to sound in that manner. “Quid Sum Miser” brings many traditional Metal elements along with it…harsh vocals, a punchy riff, and bossy drumming. The clean vocals bring more melancholy with them, but so far, the album is pretty devoid of hope one way or the other.

“Quaerens Me” uses an energetic guitar riff, with some mysterious tones, along with the combination of clean and harsh vocals, and the tension that they build is real. This song also has some noticeable Progressive elements in it, both in the uncommon structure and meter. “Lacrimosa” swings back to gentle tones in the beginning, and the rush of music that comes after the clean vocals is like a dam breaking. “Hostias” is another folky offering, mostly in the acoustic guitars, cello, and piano work, and an aura of sadness emanates from the music. “Angus Dei” closes the album. It features harmonized clean vocals that seem to come from all around, but the angry vocals wipe the clean slate with dirt that stains, and they seem to gather up all of their pent up feelings and let them out.

This is art, in one of its purist forms, and the band has genuinely put their collective talent into their craft, of that much I am sure. My biggest concern with a band this uncommon is finding a market for them. Some Metalheads have very open minds, and like me, search and embrace the uncommon. Others, not so much. But I am encouraging those of you who connect with unique offerings to give this album a chance, because it has a lot to offer.