This German band is like a phoenix: keeps burning itself and reincarnating. During its first stint in the 80s, they played standard thrash, in vein of Metallica and Exodus, and had two albums: "Into The Dark Past" (1986) and "To Dust You Will Decay" (1988), now extremely hard to find. In 1989 they broke up. In 1998 two original members, Frank Banks (bass), and Dirk Assmuth (drums), gave the band a new start. Their albums, "Border Of Reality" (1998), "Bleed" (1999), "Enlighten The Darkness" (2000), and "Of Human Bondage" (2002), steadily moving from melodic power metal to neo-thrash, were well received, and the band was starting to get appreciated by the world. In its new incarnation, it consisted of Dirk Thurisch (Vocals), Bernd Aufermann (guitars), Steven Banx (keyboards), Banks, and Assmuth. In 2001 Angel Dust performed at ProgPower USA 2.0 festival in Atlanta. After "Bondage," however, just when they were ready for a big breakthrough, they broke up again. Aufermann joined Running Wild, Dirk Thurisch started a project titled "Mercury Tide," etc. However, in 2005 an announcement was made of the third stint. The present lineup includes: Assmuth, Aufermann, Steven Banx, plus vocalist Carsten Kaiser and bassist Christian Pohlmann. The new album is still in the works.
BORDER OF REALITY (1998)
RATING: ***1/2
BEST SONGS: title track, "Nightmare," "Spotlight Kid"
Good power/prog metal, with sort of average vocals. I'd label this album as being 35% prog, 50% melodic speed/power, and 15% thrash. I like the power part the most because in the prog portion it sounds like a progressive side of Royal Hunt too much. But where there's speed, there's quality. The title track is a ripping tune, too bad the main riff was obviously stolen from "Street Lethal" by Racer X. "No More Faith" is a good heavy rocker (Faith No More had a song called "Angel Dust," and Angel Dust has a song called "No More Faith," would you call this a coincidence?). "Nightmare" (stupid intro, good chorus) and "Centuries" are both quite cool, but then it becomes a little too boring, with songs like "Where The Wind Blows" and "Behind The Mirror" putting me to sleep. The best song on the album, by far, is their cover of Rainbow's "Spotlight Kid." Man, does it blaze! Gives me shivers every time. A worthy purchase.
BLEED (1999)
RATING: ***1/2
BEST SONGS: title track, "Black Rain," "Temple Of The King"
Even though the album itself is not bad, but the greatest song on it is again a Rainbow cover. This time it's "Temple Of The King" (also appeared on the Dio tribute album, being one of the best tracks there as well). Looks like no matter what Angel Dust does, its greatest strength lies in covering Rainbow. Musically, the album is very similar to Border Of Reality, only a little slower and a little heavier. Prog keyboards play a dominant role, but overall the sound is a lot heavier than, say, Royal Hunt. As usual, the first song, title track, is very heavy, and Thurisch sounds a lot like Dio. At the end he simply rips! Other highlights include "Black Rain," "Follow Me" (pt. 1 and 2), and great "Surrender." Most of the songs are, however, not as strong. A solid effort, but not very inspirational, except for the selected parts.
ENLIGHTEN THE DARKNESS (2000)
RATING: ***1/2
BEST SONGS: "Let Me Live," "Enjoy," "Cross Of Hatred"
This album seems to be heavily influenced by Savatage, with plenty of piano-filled ballads. There are virtually no speed numbers that won many new fans for Angel Dust. However, the songs here are very well written and performed, including all those power ballads. Thurisch definitely has a very likeable voice, and he uses it well (and his final scream "Cross of hatred!!" is to die for). Naturally, I prefer the heavier tunes, like the opening "Let Me Live" and the above-mentioned "Cross Of Hatred," which is a heavy song by itself, but also puts on about fifty tons live. Songs like "The One You Are," "Enjoy" (this one boasts a fairly sarcastic delivery from Thurisch) and "Fly Away" are also good songs, especially if you miss some of the early 90s 'Tage ballads, but more heaviness would be appreciated.
OF HUMAN BONDAGE (2002)
RATING: ****
BEST SONGS: title track, "Unreal Soul," "Forever"
The prayers have been heard. This is AD's heaviest album yet, and consequently the band breaks out of the perpetual "***1/2" rating in my book. The sound borders on vicious. If the opening title track will not break your neck with sheer headbanging heaviness ("I!! Hate you!!"), then the rest of the album will. Keys are much more subdued, so you would think EtL and OHB came from totally different bands. "Unreal Soul" almost makes me think of Megadeth (without the shredding). "Forever," "Unite," "Got This Evil," and concluding "Killer" can drive you through the wall to say hello to your neighbors with their chuggy riffs and killer vocals from Thurisch. Think HotMK-era Savatage, only much, much heavier. Probably the heaviest of all power metal albums of the year, it was loved by virtually everybody, and it's not surprising that the news of the band's breakup upset quite a few people. It was good to hear that AD is now coming back, but this album would be rather hard for them to top.
|
|
