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Germany's Coronatus have been nothing if not productive in the Gothic Metal genre with 2014's Cantus Lucidus the fourth full-length since I first heard Fabula Magna back in 2009 and the band's sixth album overall. The style remains the same with dueling female vocals and lots of sweeping keyboards but with a few more folk elements this time around. The revolving door for singers hasn't stopped spinning and on Cantus Lucidus soprano Carmen Lorch, who has been present on three of the last four albums, is joined by new traditionally-voiced Anny Maleyes. I enjoyed how the vocals worked together when Lorch sung with Lisa Lasch on Fabula Magna but Coronatus hasn't been able to recreate that formula since. Lorch still sounds like an opera singer trying to sing Metal and while there's nothing wrong with Maleyes voice she has a flat, minimally emotive delivery that at best coexists with Lorch's and at worst clashes. Musically, Coronatus tries to add some different elements to the songs on Cantus Lucidus but most are unimpressive. Some examples like the fiddle at the beginning of "No Holy Wars" (and don't get me started on the lyrics which sound like something a 13 year old would write) or the flutes on several songs are notable only because they seem out of place rather than complementary.

I've been following Coronatus for 5+ years as they've released progressively worse albums over that time. Cantus Lucidus offers nothing the discerning Female-fronted Metal fan needs and until they find a vocal pairing more pleasing to the ear and sharpen their songwriting skills they will remain on the outside looking in.