When Lake Of Tears brought out their debut album, Greater Art, in 1994, there was no indication of the band's true potential. If their first release came across somewhat bumpy - the songs still lacking that final polish -,the band from Sweden got their finger out only one year later with their second recording, Headstones (1995). The press honoured the disc with glowing reviews, and A Crimson Cosmos brought them their big breakthrough in 1997, the material reflecting a broad musical range, paving the way for Lake Of Tears to secure themselves a prominent position on the scene. This was consolidated by a tour with Therion.

The subsequent album release, Forever Autumn (1999), by the trio consisting of band leader Daniel Brennare, bassist Mikael Larsson and drummer Johan Oudhuis (reinforced by varying guitarists), however, did not live up to its predecessor's success. The Scandinavians realised that they had more to offer but seemed unable to figure out just how to tap their sources at that time, and so the group broke up shortly after the arrival of their fourth album.

To honour their contract with Black Mark, they had to record another CD, entitled The Neonai and released in 2002, Brennare cutting the final stroke all by himself. What had originally been planned as an act of liberation from a stalemate position proved that the band still had plenty of good ideas, which they didn't want to use for this hasty effort. It seemed difficult to believe that so much potential was about to vanish to the small Swedish town of Borås.

Luckily, fate still had a lot in store for Lake Of Tears, after all the fire still burned in band leader Daniel Brennare and his two long-standing pals, Mikael Larsson (bass) and Johan Oudhuis (drums). After a joint rehearsal session in summer 2003, originally intended to kill the boredom, Lake Of Tears got together again. The chemistry between the musicians was as vibrant as ever, and once the rust had been shaken off, they set about working on ideas for new tracks. Following the disappointment with their old label, they checked out their options carefully this time to avoid another setback. Lake Of Tears found a new imprint in Noise Records, who left no doubt that they were happy to support and promote the band.

With competent backing and nine brand-new tracks up their sleeves, they ensconced themselves at the Studio Mega in Sweden, where The Crown, Beseech and The Soundtrack Of Our Lives had recorded before them. Hearing the new numbers for the first time, the listener immediately realises that Lake Of Tears have delivered an impressive comeback in Black Brick Road. Their rediscovered joy of playing is evident in every track, the more or less mediocre days of Forever Autumn or the unlovingly recorded The Neonai are forgotten, we are reminded of the times when The Crimson Cosmos pleased our ears. Black Brick Road sounds modern and still calls to mind days gone by. The mix of goth, rock and metal addresses a broad audience and should meet with a lot of interest due to the psychedelic touch in its atmosphere. The band also want to get down to business live: next to a number of summer open-airs, a tour is also in the planning stage.

Text: © Noise Records 2004

Moons and Mushrooms, 2007 (Dockyard 1)



1. Last purple sky
2. Island earth
3. You better breathe while there's still air
4. Waiting counting
5. Like A Leaf
6. Children of the grey
7. Head On Phantom
8. Planet Of The Penguins
9. Is There A Better Way*

Line-up
Daniel Brennare - vocals, guitar
Magnus Sahlgren - lead guitar
Mikael Larsson - bass
Johan Oudhuis - drums


Black Brick Road, 2004 (Noise Records)



1. The greymen
2. Making evenings
3. Black brick road
4. Dystopia
5. The organ
6. A trip with the moon
7. Sister sinister
8. Rainy day away
9. Crazyman

Recorded and mixed at Studio Mega, February to April 2004. Engineered by Christian Silver and Manne Engström. Assisted by Henrik Lycknert. Produced by Christian Silver and Lake of Tears. Mastered at the Cutting Room by Björn Engelmann. Artwork and layout by Björn Gustafsson. Photos by Anton Hedberg. Songs written by Lake of Tears, except Sister sinister, written by Lake of Tears with Stina Rebelius. Lead guitars composed and performed by Magnus Sahlgren.

Line-up
Daniel Brennare - vocals, guitar
Mikael Larsson - bass
Johan Oudhuis - drums

Additional musicians
Magnus Sahlgren - lead guitar
Dan Helgeson - organ
Stina Rebelius - vocals
Ulrika Silver - vocals
Jörgen Cremonese - guitar


Greatest Tears vol I, 2004 (Black Mark)



1. Burn fire burn
2. Dreamdemons
3. The four strings of mourning
4. Under the crescent
5. Boogie bubble
6. Twilight
7. As daylight yields
8. Sweetwater
9. Otherwheres
10. The homecoming
11. Sorcerers


Greatest Tears vol II, 2004 (Black Mark)



1. Devil's Diner
2. Headstones
3. Netherworld
4. So fell autumn rain
5. Down the Nile
6. Lady Rosenred
7. Raistlin and the rose
8. Demon you/Lily Anne
9. To blossom blue
10. Leave a room
11. When my sun comes down

With 2 compilations Black Mark honours LAKE OF TEARS as master of Gothic-Metal. The true classics selected from the 5 Lake of Tears albums.


The Neonai, 2002 (Black Mark)



1. Return of ravens
2. The Shadowshires
3. Solitude
4. Can die no more
5. Leave a room
6. Sorcerers
7. Nathalie and the fireflies
8. Let us go as they do
9. Down the Nile

Recorded and single-mixed in XTC studios, Stockholm. Engineered by Ulf Wahlberg. Produced by Ulf Wahlberg and Lake of Tears. Mastered at CRP Recording by Claes Persson. Cover art by Kristian Wåhlin. Songs written by Daniel Brennare. Arranged by Ulf Wahlberg and Lake of Tears.

Line-up
Daniel Brennare - vocals, guitar
Mikael Larsson - bass
Johan Oudhuis - drums

Additional musicians
Magnus Sahlgren - guitars
Jennie Tebler - lead vocals “Sorcerers“, plus backing vocals
Ulf Wahlberg - keyboards


Sorcerers (single), 2002 (Black Mark)



1. Sorcerers (single mix)
2. Nathalie and the fireflies


Forever Autumn, 1999 (Black Mark)



1. So fell autumn rain
2. Hold on tight
3. Forever autumn
4. Pagan wish
5. Otherwheres
6. The homecoming
7. Come night I reign
8. Demon you/Lily anne
9. To blossom blue

Recorded at the XTC-studios in Stockholm, between January and March 1999. Engineered by Ulf Wahlberg. Produced by Ulf Wahlberg and Lake of Tears. Mastered at T.M. Mastering by Tom Muller. Executive production by Anders Forsberg and Börje Forsberg. Photos by Christer Johansson for Studion AB. Layout by Michael Semprevivo and Anders Forsberg. All songs written by Daniel Brennare, arranged by Ulf Wahlberg and Lake of Tears. "The Homecoming" is dedicated to Juha Saarinen (1952-1995).

Line-up
Daniel Brennare - vocals, guitar
Mikael Larsson - bass
Johan Oudhuis - drums
Christian Saarinen - keyboards

Additional musicians
Bo Hulphers - accordian, flute
Magnus Sahlgren - solo guitar
Henriette Schack - cello


A Crimson Cosmos, 1997 (Black Mark)



1. Boogie bubble
2. Cosmic weed
3. When my sun comes down
4. Devil's diner
5. The four strings of mourning
6. To die is to wake
7. Lady Rosenred
8. Raistlin and the rose
9. A crimson cosmos

Recorded and mixed at soundtrade studios, Stockholm in January 1997. Engineered by Ronny Lahti. Produced by Ronny Lahti and Lake of Tears. Mastered at the cuttingroom by Peter in de Betou. Executive production by Börje Forsberg. Artwork by Kristian Whålin. Layout by Kristian Whålin and Lake of Tears. Typography and executive design by M.Kumpe. Lead guitar on tracks 1, 5, 6, 7 and 9 composed and performed by Magnus Sahlgren. All songs written by Daniel Brennare.

Line-up
Daniel Brennare - vocals, guitar
Mikael Larsson - bass
Johan Oudhuis - drums

Additional musicians
Pelle Hogbring - keyboards
Ronny Lahti - keyboards, guitar
Magnus Sahlgren - solo guitar
Jennie Tebler - vocals


Lady Rosenred (single), 1997 (Black Mark)



1. Lady Rosenred
2. Devil's diner
3. A crimson cosmos


Headstones, 1995 (Black Mark)



1. A foreign road
2. Raven land
3. Dreamdemons
4. Sweetwater
5. Life's but a dream
6. Headstones
7. Twilight
8. Burn fire burn
9. The path of the gods

Recorded, mixed and produced at the wavestation in March/April 1995 by Ulf Petterson and Lake of Tears. Executive producer Börje Forsberg. All songs written by Daniel Brennare. Cover art by Kristian Wåhlin. Photo by Anton Hedberg. Layout by the graphic beat/Berlin.

Line-up
Daniel Brennare - vocals, guitar
Jonas Eriksson - guitar Mikael Larsson - bass
Johan Oudhuis - drums

Additional musicians
Ulf Petterson - keyboards
Mikael Hult - Acoustic guitar (on "Headstones")
Annica Karlsson - vocals


Greater Art, 1994 (Black Mark)



1. Under the crescent
2. Eyes of the sky
3. Upon the highest mountain
4. As daylight yields
5. Greater art
6. Evil inside
7. Netherworld
8. Tears

Recorded and mixed December 93-January 94 at Sunlight studio. Produced and mixed by Tomas Skogsberg, Mattias Lodmalm and Lake of Tears. Engineered by Tomas Skogsberg. Executive producer: Börje Forsberg. Cover art by Kristian Whålin. Photos by Anton Hedberg. Original logo by M.Lotz. All guitars played by Brennare.

Line-up
Daniel Brennare - vocals, guitar
Jonas Eriksson - guitar Mikael Larsson - bass
Johan Oudhuis - drums

Additional musicians
Tomas Skogsberg - Keyboards, guitar solo on "Greater art" together with Mattias Lodmalm.
Mattias Lodmalm - backing vocals, guitar solo on "Greater art" together with Tomas Skogsberg.