Just two years after the release of ‘River of Diamonds’, LIV KRISTINE is back with her seventh solo album ‘Amor Vincit Omnia’ and is as passionate as ever. The music on ‘Amor Vincit Omnia’ was composed by the sought-after session and live musician Sascha Dannenberger, who was also responsible for the production in his SaDinTheBox Studio and the Twilight Sound Studio in Karlsruhe. The eleven tracks were mastered by Andy Classen at his Stage One Studio. In their songs, the band skilfully and excitingly combines classic dark rock with elements of doom, rock and pop to create an extraordinary mix of sounds that fully emphasises the mood of each individual track.
LIV KRISTINE has always had a strong connection to her fans and followers. Personally and in her lyrics, she has an open manner that instils instant appreciation and confidence.
‘Amor Vincit Omina’ begins with “Prelude” where LIV KRISTINE gives you immediate and complete access to her soul and heart. It is a raw, screaming melodic composition that ends with a heartbeat. In her lyrics, LIV KRISTINE discusses life from both a broken and a beautiful, loving perspective (‘12th February’), touches the earth and soul (‘Angel in Disguise’), and bows to Mother Nature's seasons and her own personal growth (‘Tangerines’). She explains the path of healing after the complete breakdown of boundaries and resilience - and why she does not tolerate mean and abusive behaviour towards people and nature. The album is an ode to life untouched - ‘Ode to Life Pristine’. She alternates between breathtaking directness (‘Hold it with Your Life’, ‘Melange’, ‘Unzip My Love’) and messages wrapped in poetic language (‘Amor Vinci Omina’, ‘When Stillness Speaks’).
On the title track you can also hear the growls of Michael Espenæs, her husband, which give the song a perfect ‘Beauty & the Beast’ constellation. ‘Sapphire Heaven’, which builds a musical and lyrical bridge between the previous and the new release, is one of the album's brilliants. It is a luxury to take the freedom to feel and this is the only way to achieve this mixture. The once again impressive artwork by Marc Niederhagemann (ArtWeRK - Mediadesign) with photos by Mariël Rohrbach complements the musical and lyrical world of the songs on ‘Amor Vinci Omina’ with its Gothic-style images.
Prelude starts with a pounding heart followed by some electronics and a haunting singing siren sound.
Amor Vincit Omnia sounds like good old times. It’s a nice mix of heavenly voices (sweet as an angel) and male grunts and growls. Or Like Silke Bischoff sang: Love conquers all! Feel the pathos, feel the love and the real emotions!
Ode To Life Pristine is a magical ode to life with fragile and yet powerful vocals. It’s a mesmerizing song. The a-cappella ending is topping it all!
12th February is another fragile track with a message. It’s a slow one, where the emotions reign. I adore the piano versus drum part with on top her heavenly/angelic voice. Towards the end the song gets an wall of sound treatment.
Angel In Disguise starts in a fragile way. I was at first thinking it would be a piano driven balled, but then the guitars and drums knocked it off. In the end it’s still some kind of a ballad, let’s call it a ballad with balls and fragile lyrics/feelings.
Hold It With Your Life is a top track that might become a single as this song has it all: breathtaking vocals, power and yet also enough fragility. It’s a mix of the best of both worlds.
Sapphire Heaven is a sweat rocker, showing off her angelic voice. I like the piano parts, but also the more rocking parts. Fans of her siren voice will be in heaven with this song!
Unzip My Love starts softly with her majestic voice. It’s a mid-tempo pop/rock song with an aery sound.
Melange (When Addiction Calls) mixes guitars with more tender moments, rocks and wheeps, whispers but also screams …
Tangerines is a nice rocker, with softer moments (where’s she’s whispering softly). The song is over before you notice it. It’s a sweet one with a nice message.
She closes with: When Stillness Speaks. Poetry on a layer of rock with an angelic voice as topping. It’s a typical Liv Kristine song, just the fade out ending is a bit strange.
Conclusion: it’s a typical Liv Krsitine album on which she deals with things from the past (the more emotional parts) and takes a point towards things she doesn’t love or can’t stand. Fans will adore this album. Is it a spectacular album? No. The previous one was better. I still have to dig deeper, but at this moment (2/3/2025) this is my point of view on this album. No doubt: she still has it but don’t expect any new directions or stuff she wanted to try out for the first time (and that’s the only point critical point).
MUSICIANS:
Liv Kristine (Lead Vocals)
Sascha Dannenberger(Guitars)
Tobias Glier (Bass)
Roland Bliesener (Keyboard)
Björn Etzel (Drums)
Michael Espenæs (Guest Vocals)
