Artist:  Liv Kristine
   Title: Skintight
   Label: Napalm Records  

The ability to cross over genres gives musicians and vocalists greater depth and showcases the true diversity and wealth of their talent, and in the uncertain world of Rock Music these days, that has got to be a great advantage.

One artist who spans both the Metal world and the more commercial Pop/Rock world is Norway’s Liv Kristine, who with her third solo release once again shows what a great vocalist she really is.  Her latest release 'Skintight' allows her to showcase those Pop/Rock credentials to full effect.

The album is pure ear-candy for the soul.  As the album opens up with the title track ‘Skintight’, you're drawn into her atmospheric world that Kristine provides.  Haunting melodies and mysticism of the highest calibre.

The majesty of the album continues with the haunting tones of ‘Twofold’, a gentle refrain that just takes you on a magic carpet ride of emotions, then it's time to rock things up a little with ‘Train to Somewhere’, a real switch from the previous tracks.  A modern Pop Rocker that wouldn't go amiss in the commercial charts.

Liv really pulls at the heart strings with ‘Love In Grey’, a song that will melt even the hardest of hearts, before once again touching on a modern Rock sound with one of my favourite tracks off the album ‘Emotional Catastrophies’.

This wonderful release really is a joy to listen to.  When you're constantly bombarded with all genres of metal it's good to hear something different from an artist who you’re perhaps more familiar seeing in that traditional metal role.  The album continues to impress with ‘Life Line’, another haunting melody rich opus that once again highlights what a wonderful vocal talent Kristine is.

Another of my favourites off the album has to be ‘Boy At The Window’, a touch of electro harmonies throughout this one really make it that extra bit special.  I can really imagine this as a dance remix and doing well in the club scene.

It's back to the mellow ballad like tones with ‘Wonders’ and the mystic ‘Versified Harmonies’ before the tremendous ‘Rarest Flower’, a real tear jerker with a haunting string section adding even more atmosphere to the proceedings and a song that closes off a wonderful album that once again shows the diversity and depth Kristine has as a vocalist.

1. Skintight
2. Twofold
3. Train To Somewhere
4. Love In Grey
5. Emotional Catastrophies
6. Life Line
7. Boy At The Window
8. Wonders
9. Versified Harmonies
10. The Rarest Flower

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