Left Hand Solution
Shadow Dance (CD) 1994 Massproduktion
'Shadow Dance' has all the characteristics of an oh so sweet and lovely fairytale that went terribly, TERRIBLY wrong. A fairytale of the darker side perhaps? The bitter sweet melodies mixed with a heavy monotone undercurrent leave you devoid of any hope for a happy ending. And they are just one part of the tale. Female vocalist Kicki vocals are hardly angelic and she definately is no damsel in distress. Her deep and at times almost out of key vocals fully compliment the music. This album simply leaves you devoid of hope and definately will shatter any ideas of a happy fairytale Disney style. The only annoyance is the fact that the bonus track is "hidden" behind the last track by about 20 minutes (!!) of silence, which perhaps is fun in the beginning but quickly starts to be annoying. The lyrics from the track 'Solitary Fallen Angel' are perhaps the best illustration of what to expect: "Pretty princess ran away, pretty princess came his way, pretty princess never smiles again".	1. Shroud 2. Infernal 3. Solitary fallen angel 4. Nightbloom 5. Final withering 6. Shadowdance Approx. 32 minutes
Reviewed by: Aldo Quispel
Fevered (CD) 1994 Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast advertises this band as a must for people who listen to the Gathering and Theatre of Tragedy. I agree that Left Hand Solution has some small similarities with the abovementioned bands, but still I think there is quite some difference. Left Hand Solution combines the slow, downtuned guitar sound that we know of Type-o-Negative with the beautiful, sad and very melancholic voice of female vocalist Mariana. In contrast with both of the other abovementioned bands, the female vocals of Left Hand Solution are low, sad and rather alt than soprano. Melancholy, pain, suffering and sad feelings are the words that come to mind when hearing this album. Slow guitar melodies, sometimes a slight accelaration, weird melodic lines from time to time. Guitars are the most important instruments, sometimes a synth adds some atmosphere. The last track of this album is quite something different though. On this song, the vocals are not done by Mariana. And it's a "little" heavier too. All in all I find this a very pleasant doom-metal release, which makes me long for more of this band.	1. Thorns 2. Fevered 3. The wounds of bitterness 4. Illusion 5. Angels with the last plagues 6. Scorns of time 7. The futile passion 8. Memories (of the tragedienne) 9. The bleeding 10. Scarred Approx. 50 minutes
Reviewed by: Heiko Isselee
Missionary Man (Single) 1999 Massproduktion
After a few years of silence Left Hand Solution showed signs of life again. I was as excited as a little kid when I heard the news they were recording again. After a lot of delays this single proceeding the 'Light shines Black' album came out. It contains just two songs and a CD-rom part. The first song 'Missionary Man' is a Eurythmics cover and not really my thing. I never liked the Eurythmics and this cover doesn't add a lot to the original. The second song however, called 'The Enemy Within', is a real new track and has the trusted Left Hand Solution sound; heavy, numb and low down female vocals. If I compare it to the 'Fevered' album it's a bit more up-tempo and "rockish". All in all a good song which makes you hungry for more. The CD-rom part is the Videoclip for the 'Missionary Man' track and it is perhaps fun to watch once but all in all just a novelty. Just like this entire single actually.	1. Missionary man 2. The enemy within Approx. 6 minutes
Reviewed by: Aldo Quispel
Light Shines Black (CD) 2001 Massproduktion
Being a long time fan of Left Hand Solution I was happily surprised when I found the promo of this CD on my doorstep. After more than 4 years, hordes of delays and a slightly disappointing single the year before, what would this album offer? The answer to this question isn't simple. Except from having become a lot heavier than on any of their previous releases, 'Light Shines Black' offers the listener a great variety of styles. The music is still dominated by Mariana Holmberg's deep wailing vocals, marking every single track with that LHS feel we are familiar with. About two thirds of the tracks breathe depression, sadness and despair while dragging themselves forth at a slow pace. A track like 'Persistance of Memory' could have easily fitted on 'Fevered'. The diversity comes from a range of songs in which the band freely experiments. From the more rockish title track, to the slightly electronic start of 'Soiled Souls', to the heavily Sabbath influenced, groovy track 'The Crooked Smile' the listener is shown a side of LHS that was unknown until now. This does have a downside. The cold, numb atmosphere of 'Shadow Dance' and 'Fevered' is broken up by these tracks. Especially the cover 'Missionary Man' (oddly enough placed as 3rd track), brakes up the feel of the album. However once 'Orient Nights' starts, you realise that LHS are still masters of creating that cold and numb feel. It breathes misery and despair in a way that makes most songs on the mighty 'Fevered' bow their heads in shame. The album is closed by the acoustic track 'A road to Nowhere'. It takes some getting used to, but eventually the deep vocals in combination with acoustics do get to you. All in all, this album holds a lot of surprises that might take some getting used to, but LHS are definately back and just as great as always, depression with a twist! The album also holds a bonus CD-rom part with the video of 'Missionary Man', just like the single released the year before did.	1. Light Shines Black 2. Soiled Souls 3. Missionary man 4. Lucid Dream Desire 5.The Crooked Smile 6. Raven Wings 7. Vision 8. Persistence of Memory 9. Heart Laid Bare 10. Orient Nights 11. A Road to Nowhere Approx. 41 minutes
Reviewed by: Aldo Quispel