Ok, so this summer
has seen the launch of a few good CDs, but I do think that if
I had to choose a powerful and resounding record, with an impressive
quality, that you can just wear out from listening to it, it
would be this "Enlighten the Darkness".
In a way, I could just end the review here, but our goal is to try an get the bands that read this to buy us a box of beers if we get to meet them...
During this second period, Angel Dust's records were good but erratic. They included from one to three fast cuts powerful enough to derail a train (we could also use the image of a Concorde crashing, but it seems they don't need our help for that), although the rest of the CD was usually second-rate, specially in the case of "Border of Reality" from which I loved the great cut that opens and titles the record, but was very disappointed with the rest. Nevertheless, they seem to have learned from Grave Digger's example and decided that second phases are there for devastating, and with a bit of luck, that is exactly what this CD will do.
It is a genius record from start to end, those rhythm changes that stop bluntly the song or pass within a second from Doom type tempos to 100 kilometers per hour speeds, those furiously-paced riffs combined with slow and acoustic pieces, that melodic and tender singing that increases its tone until the vocalist seems to be going to sing his head off and tear a few muscles without losing control... and all of this presented in Angel Dust's characteristic sound with the keyboard and piano accompaniment in many parts, as well as some technology starting and finishing some cuts that will not bother in any way the most classic ears... all of this together makes your blood boil when you listen to the record.
Songs to be highlighted... well that's a hard one, but I definitely love "Let Me Live" (many groups would dream of writing a song like this as an opening to their records), "The One You Are" (with a feminine voice underneath that makes your flesh crawl) and "Cross of Hatred" (pure hate transformed into music); songs that, when played live, will not dislocate any cervical… they will just blow the audience's heads off... well, that would have been some years ago. Nowadays, with the moshing craze I'm not too sure anymore... In any case, we'll drink a beer to their health.
Lluís Batlle
Translation: Fausto Navarro http://faustonavarro.com
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