UMUR "Last-Minute Lies" is an EP released in 1999 through Supernal Music by Norwegian experimental/avant garde metal (formerly black metal) act Fleurety. Fleurety´s debut album "Min Tid Skal Komme (1995)" was a strong semi-progressive black metal album that I enjoyed greatly and I felt that the band had been through a rapid and positive development in style since their quite disastrous demo "Black Snow (1993)" and the "A Darker Shade Of Evil (1994)" EP. The release of "Last-Minute Lies" comes a whole four years after the release of "Min Tid Skal Komme" and again the band´s music has evolved into something totally different than what they presented on their last release.

Gone are the extreme black metal vocals from the debut album which should help make this EP interesting for people who don´t appreciate extreme vocals but enjoy experimental/avant garde metal. It´s actually not audible on this EP that Fleurety was once a black metal band. Instead of the extreme male vocals on previous releases by the band we´re treated to some jazzy female vocals on this EP (and a few male monotone singing/ talking type vocals too). A rather strange but definitely succcesful addition to the sound. The songs are generally not as complex in structure as the songs on "Min Tid Skal Komme" but they are still very intriguing. The atmosphere is dark and sombre and the addition of occasional saxophone really brings much to the atmosphere too. It´s hard to make comparisons to any other artists as this is very original music but a band like Virus (mostly in the way the guitar sounds) comes to mind a few times. The rythms in the music are quite enjoyable too and deserves a mention.

The musicianship is excellent. All instruments are played by Alexander Nordgaren and S. E. Hatlevik excluding the saxophone and the female singing which are delivered by Mari Solberg (saxophone), Karianne Horn (vocals on "Facets" and "I Saw Claws") and Ayna B. Johansen (vocals on "Vortex").

The production is excellent. A very suiting sound for the music.

"Last-Minute Lies" is quite an excellent EP by Fleurety and as the playing time is 20:18 minutes there is also plenty of quantity for the money. A deserved 4 star rating and a big recommendation to those who are interesting in listening to a very original approach to experimental/ avant garde metal without extreme vocals.