The name
Black Abyss didn't ring a bell, and when I heard the term "German Power Metal band" used to describe them, my first thought was, oh no, not another hopeless
Helloween clone! But boy, I was surprised! A Hard and Heavy, dark and mystical mixture of various influences, done in an original way is what the album has to offer!
Black Abyss owns a great deal to
Iced Earth, and in particular
Iron Maiden, when it comes to the guitar riffs and harmonies. There is also some influence from bands like
Nevermore and
Angel Dust in terms of the atmospheric way of using the singer's voice. The singer definitely has balls! He is not an amazing singer in the traditional sense of the word; he has a very rough and powerful approach, but is not without range. His voice just fits the band perfectly, and he absolutely helps the band stand out.
The real strength of the band is the guitar riffs, which are high quality all the way! It is around this solid axe work the band build its foundation. Catchy parts with melodic choruses and layered vocals in the real Power Metal vein are found in plenty as well.
There are lots of highlights on the album, but a given favorite is the fantastic ending track
When Angels Wear Black. This song features the most amazing, powerful Heavy Metal riff. Okay, so it is pretty obviously influenced by Maiden, but it sounds so good! The way the vocals go are very different from what you could expect from this type of band, and gives the song a unique and mystical atmosphere. The singer's voice is used more like an instrument in it's own right, creating an additional melody, rather than following the melody of the guitar. This song alone is worth the whole album.
Other highlights include the melodic, super catchy
Dark Legacy, the very hard, Thrash-influenced
Pure Evil as well as the simple rocker
Rebellion. The music is wide-ranging and though some elements runs through the album like a red line, there are no two songs that are too alike. Many songs contain a hymn-ish huge chorus, but it is never overdone.
The bad news is that the album is criminally under produced. I'm not really super focused on production, but this is one of the worst productions I've ever heard! The sound is like a demo, and this is supposed to be a professional record on a well-respected label (Massacre Records). There is no unison between music and vocals, it sounds like the singer stands in the bathroom further down the hall, singing from there, while the bass is totally in front. The drums are left too much in the background, giving the album a softer sound than it deserves. A better mix and better overall production would have saved this record from the unprofessional impression that graces it now. That really pisses me off, because material this good deserves far better!
Apart from that, there's not much to criticize when it comes to this album. It is very consistent, and doesn't leave much to be wished for. If the band work on developing the way of combining old school Heavy Metal elements with melodic Power Metal parts even further, I believe they can create something spectacular in the future.
The singer could try to use a bit more of his range. On a melodic track like
Dark Legacy, he sounds a little like singing the same note through a period. His strength is the powerful and a bit rusty style, but to get some more of the melodic elements here would be nice.
In short, a great Heavy Metal record as it should be done. Traditionally influenced but with a personal sound and a great drive!
Written by
Nina Wednesday, October 5, 2005
Show all reviews by NinaRatingsNina: 7.5/10Members: No members have rated this album yet.
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