IRIS WRATH ALBUM DIFFUSION (USA), INFACTED (EUROPE) RELEASE: AUGUST 23, 2005 REVIEW: SEPTEMBER 30, 2005

I don’t know if the title "Wrath" fits but the lyrics are dark and bitter. The music though, is still smooth, melodic synthpop. This time with guitars, however, which works well some of the time. But on many tracks the guitars sadly take away the electronic precision and warm sound of the last album, that I liked so much, making "Wrath" radio pop, too streamlined for its own good.

Unfortunately, the song writing isn’t quite up to par this time around either. At first listens, “Wrath” was a big disappointment, but upon repeated listening, it has grown. Especially the first half. It’s not in the same league as “Awakening”, but it’s still a good pop album, although the hits aren’t as obvious. Reagan’s voice is still great and fits the music perfectly, and Andrew’s synthesizers are always skillfully programmed, it’s just that the result is a bit “flat”. It’s also too sugary for many, I bet. But such things don’t bother me.

JOHAN CARLSSON