Artist: Angel Dust
Label: Century Media
Release Date: 7/18/00
Average Rating: 3
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Title: Enlighten the Darkness Artist: Angel Dust Label: Century Media Release Date: 7/18/00 |
There are currently 1 Reviews of this album.
Average Rating: 3 Submit a review of this album. |
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Submitted by Requiem (1/31/01):
When a reviewer finally hears a band for the first time on the band's fifth album, one can wonder what the reviewer can offer. First of all you can gain an open mindedness throughout the review as there will be no prejudices or past standards that have to be judged upon. This leaves us with a fresh review void of expectations and a one that can stand alongside a review of a band's debut. On the flip side, one can not offer to those experienced fans such crucial comparisons to past albums, lineups, etc. So in some respects, it's nice to hear both sides of the story, giving you two completely different perspectives on the same album. In this case I shall offer to you the former of the two perspectives hopefully providing some adequate insight on your choice to support it or not.Angel Dust released their first album back in 1986. That alone easily puts them into the veterans category of power metal. After some differences they disbanded in 1988 only to appear a decade later with the drummer and bass player as the only original members. Signed to Century Media since the reformation, they have been pumping out albums at a quick rate of one per year. The newest release, Enlighten the Darkness serves as a competent album for 2000, but one must wonder if perhaps taking a little more time on the next record would prove to be worthwhile.
What I can say about Enlighten the Darkness is that it certainly is a heavy album. Even vocalist Dirk Thurisch has a more masculine sounding approach than a majority of the competition out there which alongside the heavy rhythms of this band bring to mind moments of Dream Theater and even Iced Earth during the most metallic moments. "I Need You" is quite easily the standout track to demonstrate how much power this man can exert from his tremendous vocal cords. Drums mainly concentrate around groove oriented and double bass filled rhythms. Keyboardist Steven Banx does a suitable job without being too flashy and gives the rhythm section a unique feel in this single guitarist lineup. These German power metallers actually capture me most on their sappiest moments in "The Need For Silence" and then on the heaviest track "Cross of Hatred."
After continuous listens to the album, I came to the conclusion that Enlighten the Darkness starts off as average, reaches a peak in the middle and then tapers back off to average quality again. Although almost all the songs come across as being well arranged and performed, there are not enough hooks to keep the album on the high interest level. Enlighten the Darkness is by all means a decent album, but to these ears it really does not rise much above that level.
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