Review Summary: Just a great debut work able to please all lovers of high quality music
What can one expect from the debut album of the band, members of which are already quite well-known in the music world and appeared to be experienced and talented musicians? Of course, the only possible answer could be “a lot of superb music”. And this is exactly what we’ll find on “My Only Shelter”, the debut work of the truly international rock-formation DARKHAUS.
14 high quality tracks and 2 remixes are just meant to make you obsessed with the world of DARKHAUS. The journey starts with the opening piece entitled “Life Worth Living”, powerful and expressive, when the great vocals and harsh guitars convey the energy to a listener so you finally realize that life worth living indeed. However it’s just the beginning and as the album continues more and more simply amazing songs come out of darkness, or silence, gaining strength and depth to demonstrate totally different melodies, arrangements, elements, sonic effects that can’t simply be restricted with the limits of one single genre and “Grace Divine” proves that.
With “Ghost” there appears a slightly dark and melancholic atmosphere, not so dreadful as it may seem at first as the beautiful and enigmatic melody does its best to create an image of an abandoned but haunted house with its own ghosts of mistakes and regrets. Scared? Well, there is a way out – break down the walls as the vocalist calls us to do in the following vigorous and energetic song. And then “Our Time” starts, interesting and impressive which manages to surprise and inspire. The next track and the next avalanche of emotions arises thanks not only to the music that is obviously as good as could be but also to the wonderful vocals diverse enough to make each sound unique. Bombastic and piercing “Breaking the Silence”, solid “Hour of Need”, meaningful and moving “Looks like Rain” accompany you in that journey through the peculiar world of DARKHAUS. “Apostle” has the power to penetrate into the deepest and darkest parts of your soul and to bring hope, while “Son of a Gun” goes further and with its vivid melody and memorizing refrain won’t leave you indifferent.
And then we drive to a dreamland, and that sort of romantic slant gently flows into “Angelina” and even “Hurts like Hell” yet the latter seems to be one the most doleful compositions of the album. But the journey can’t end up like that and to cheer everyone up “My Only Shelter” contains two excellent remixes made by Noel Pix from EISBRECHER.
So in general to avoid any comparisons and parallels I just want to say that the debut album of DARKHAUS is good, absolutely worthy to listen to and will definitely please all lovers of great music.
