Album Review: Lacrimas Profundere – Lay Me Down O Silent Fear (Steamhammer)

‘Gothcore’ pioneers Lacrimas Profundere return with their brand-new album, ‘Lay Me Down O Silent Fear’, out on September 25th, 2026, via Steamhammer.

I love that most of us hear the term ‘gothcore’ and know exactly what it means and who it is referring to. After all, Lacrimas Profundere have been doing this for over thirty years now. However, perhaps you don’t know what you’re in for with this band, so let me sum it up. Imagine if HIM were a metalcore band, had the swagger of Type O Negative, and the intensity of Slipknot. Hopefully that makes sense, especially as there’s a lot more to them, but I don’t want to overcomplicate things!

Although Lacrimas Profundere have no problem making it hard, as this new album is up there as one of their most varied albums, as far as styles go.

I like melancholic metal, especially the kind that comes with expanded arrangements, and Lacrimas Profundere deliver on this. Offering up ten strong showcases of melody, metal, and misery that come with flair. Starting with Days of Doom, a thick and punchy showcase of heaviness. Before things really take off in an anthemic direction with Nevermore. A gloomy showcase of their rocked-up goth side.

Though there is little easing up on that with the following Heart I Will Break You Before You Break Me, except for the fact that it has got more vicious touches. Such as guttural vocals and frantic sounding drumbeats. It, like O Silent Fear and its melodeath-esqe twists, are great examples of how varied the album is. A lot of which can lie at the feet of the riff work and the vocal shifts. It makes for a more fluid experience, even if some tracks need a little more time to really make a mark.

One such example of that is Agony (In Dread and Dust), a track that has vocalist Julian Larre tapping into his inner Corey Taylor. Notable, but not memorable. Only on subsequent listens do the details become more prevalent, resulting in more appreciation for what is on offer. Especially as the Slipknot vibes are strong in Faceless, albeit from a darker and heavier standpoint. I do like this one though as the chorus has life.

If we’re talking potent though, Arcane Promises is awesome. Cinematic power blended with big, anthemic properties, and a head banging inducing array of riffs. Whereas, on the other end of the scale, we have Veil XV, a very memorable ballad.

In between those tracks you’ll find A Sinful Desire, and if there’s one track that I simply don’t like, it’s this one. It’s not that it’s bad and the chorus is a bit of a singalong, but I find myself underwhealmed by it when most of the album delivers a completely different feeling.

Closing things out is At the End of a Dream Lies the Hope You Once Killed and while it might not seem it because of its length, it is an epic ending. One with heft, one with bite, and one with even more of that unforgettable lovable melancholic sound that Lacrimas Profundere have made their own. It caps off a very satisfying listen.

Lacrimas Profundere – Lay Me Down O Silent Fear Track Listing:

1. Days of Doom
2. Nevermore
3. Heart I Will Break You Before You Break Me
4. O Silent Fear
5. Agony (In Dread and Dust)
6. Faceless
7. Arcane Promises
8. A Sinful Desire
9. Veil XV
10. At the End of a Dream Lies the Hope You Once Killed

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