A few years ago I got acquainted with Cirrha Niva, a Dutch band with an unique style; progressive but dark and athmospheric at the same time. In late 2001 they finally release their very first full studio album and when I received it I eagerly opened my CD player. A mysterious introduction at first to build the tension and the mood is set... `Nightwish` bombasticity is delightful and Arnold Kloek`s voice takes you into a world of romance and tragedy, translated into a musical and lyrical concept that breathes a King Diamond athmosphere at certain moments (`Nostalgia`) The albums` beginning shows Cirrha Niva`s impressive development as a band; strong melodies and riffs, no overly stretched vocals and a lot of variety in music and this is continued throughout the whole album, where Progressive Rock is known of. `Le Parade` introduces the voice of bassplayer Liselotte Hegt and a more harder edged music that almost is early IronMaiden like.

Next to a gentle and melodic she also sings with a harder voice and then she sometimes `drifts` in her vocal line, a bit irritating now and then. Rob Willemse, the bands guitarplayer and the man who is responsible for both the story and music smartly covered up this only flaw in a way that you forget it after a while. A good album with a good overall production, however, the solo`s are sounding too thin unfortunately. If this album had the Ayreon sound it would be better. But don`t let this midguide you; in all honesty `Liasion de la Morte` is an album where the band Cirrha Niva can be very proud of and although I do think they can develop themselves a bit further, `Liasion de la Morte` certainly is a big first step...