THE ANGEL AND THE DARK RIVER

It was the previous album "Turn Loose The Swans" that put this UK band on the map. Released in 1993 it featured both clean and extreme vocals. "The Angel And The Dark River" is the followup to that from 1995, and the first of three albums to use only clean vocals. Most feel this album is the best of those three. The followup to this one "Like Gods Of The Sun" is their most accessible, straight forward release, while the one after that "34.788%... Complete" they went full steam into experimental music.

If you're going to check out just one MY DYING BRIDE record, "The Angel And The Dark River" is the one. I was so impressed with how melodic it is. But also I feel they spent much more time on the instrumental passages. It's just so much better than "Turn Loose The Swans" in that regard. It was really cool as well to read about IRON MAIDEN's leader Steve Harris being a big fan of this album. So much so he asked them to open for them on their European leg of their tour for "X-Factor". Three months on the road with MAIDEN! Aaron Stainthorpe the leader of MY DYING BRIDE called that experience brilliant. He said they were all fans of IRON MAIDEN as it was.

So we get around 52 minutes of music over six tracks. Lots of down-tuned guitars and crying vocals. But these guys let it rip often. Really this comes across as a Prog Metal album, but only in the way they contrast sections and repeat themes. This has more in common with KATATONIA right after their "Brave Murder Day" record. I still don't agree with the lyrics, but that is neither here nor there. This is a keeper! That opener "The Cry Of Mankind" is my favourite. I am so surprised at how patient this band is, especially those last five minutes of this over 12 minute piece. It just goes on and on, but it's amazing. Headphone music as well. Great drumming on this tune, and the guitars cry out. The piano is a nice touch as well. I like the haunting section around 10 1/2 minutes. Oh, and that repetitive guitar line that comes and goes.

"From Darkest Skies" is where the violin comes in. The violin is such a huge part of the mood here. It helps make this band stand out from the rest who play in this style. A bass intro is joined by that violin then vocals before kicking in with power. I just really appreciate the way they mix things up, the way they transition to a different section. Again, I feel the instrumental compositions have improved big time over their first two recordings.

That is heard again on the next song "Black Voyage" where again the violin is huge, but also the heavy riffs that come and go. An eerie section with creepy vocals arrives around 5 minutes in. Not liking this part of the voyage. But then it turns heavy again, as the violin, drums and driving guitars impress. "A Sea To Suffer In" rocks pretty hard over the 6 1/2 minutes. "Two Winters" contrasts the heavy and relaxed passages really well over the 9 minutes. Finally "Your Shameful Heaven" is a interesting title. Makes me think of Revelation 13:6 and my reading today Psalm 75:5. A great way to end the album though with solo violin to start as vocals and a full sound follow. The tempo picks up at 2 1/2 minutes as they rock hard followed by a calm that doesn't last long.

A very solid 4 star record, and my favourite from the band. A keeper.

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