This is the fourth album from this unique sounding Power Metal act, a band with a very high standard; their three previous albums were all excellent.
The melancholic mood which many of their songs have, is as on their older albums a central aspect once again.
We are talking really dark here and this feature is an experience in itself; you get dragged into these deep atmospheres in a very luring manner.
This is their most aggressive and raw release; a very heavy and tight profile is a clear characteristic in many of these songs, the opener
The Human Bondage being extremely raw and intense.
My other favourites are the following:
Unreal Soul is an excellent and well-structured mid-tempo track. The mystic key arrangements enhance the dark mood but the real highlight is the catchy bombastic refrain. The compact bass and vigorous drums create a really solid fundament.
Disbeliever with its brilliant foggy atmosphere is another amazing song. The creeping acoustic guitar beginning sets a perfect stage for the huge chorus that explodes with an extremely power break where Dirk's majestic and nerve-filled vocals shine bright.
The combination of light guitars and bombastic keys sets an amazing start to
Forever. Heavy grooving rhythm guitars is an important part in this one and the rather bright chorus line gives a nice contrast to an otherwise sombre setting.
Unite is a more direct song spiced with a melodic lead guitar melody. A great element is the variable keys that float around in the background, adding a progressive touch. The driving guitar solo is also a well-structured component.
The Cultman is the albums longest track, featuring an extensive and very atmospheric intro section. I must praise the ingenious keyboard compositions in general and also here where it adds tons of fundament to the whole creation. The varied and powerful vocal passages are also a fantastic aspect in a successful track that could have been just an inch more captivating.
In
Freedom Awaits we find the albums brightest song due to a driving and very melodic chorus. A simpler and more direct approach is used and handled with tightness and success. In general all band members do a great job on this disc, many musical passages are added a detailed twist or technical touch to make things a bit more exciting.
All songs on this disc are very good but some not that fantastic:
Inhuman has some great heavy riffing but the chorus becomes too simple to be working well.
Got this Evil is also a very intense and driving cut, I just don't think it brings that much really exciting with it. The thrilling guitar solo is a real treat but again the refrain is a bit tame.
Lyrically we are dealing with personal pains like that of feeling lost and dark issues of what the human being is capable off; from time to time a slight glimpse of hope appears. All in all they are quite good and interesting.
The production is excellent and with a certain powerful depth to it, the rhythm guitars being extremely raw and very "in the flesh" which works out really well.
Angel Dust is one of the best Power Metal bands around, partly because they make each song interesting in its own special way, and because they create music on a high technical level that still gets under the skin.
Written by
Tommy Wednesday, June 16, 2004
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