Review Summary: We will change the world forever // I'm your leader, I'm your lord // Am I human or divine?
I once again find myself staring at a blank screen, trying to think of words that might describe
Enlighten the Darkness, the 2000 output from German power metal band Angel Dust. Perhaps I was too hasty in accepting a review recommendation from Sputnik review-monster Pizzamachine. How could I do such a monumental album—one that clearly means so much to a friend that even he, with 600+ reviews under his belt, couldn’t bring himself to review—the justice it deserves? Even now, spinning the record for the 6th time this year, I’m not sure where to begin. I hadn’t even known about this band till this year! (Well, that is not entirely true. It comes up a lot when my friends mention Baltimore hxc kids Angel Du$t, who always explain to me that they're NOT seeing the power metal band of the same name. Huh! I think to myself, power metal you say, I should check em out! Why did I never do this? I digress.)
Clearly I am “BSing” to get my word count up. My old English professors liked to call me out for this. Perhaps I am trying to match the energy of the very user that recommended me this task, or I just never learned (it is actually the former, let me pretend I am a good writer). Back to the subject matter at hand!
Enlighten the Darkness was my first foray into what I initially thought was American power metal—the mix of punchy, groove-metal riffs with tasteful synths and bombastic vocals reminded me of Iced Earth, a band (and a category of power metal) that I am not very keen on. In fact, I was still under the impression they were American before writing this review when I did some preliminary Encyclopaedia Metallum research. Why does this matter, you ask? Like all subgenre discourse—it doesn’t—but it does. European power metal is faster, riffier, draws from NWOBHM (that’s the new wave of British Heavy Metal for you acronym haters, think Iron Maiden and Judas Priest), and focuses lyrically on the fantastical and medieval (read: dragons). American power metal, on the other hand, draws more from the traditional heavy metal of Manilla Road and Sanctuary (my knowledge is limited!) and plays a bit slower while still singing about fantasy stuff (read: fewer dragons). It’s a contentious subject!
So, why does any of that matter? Again, it doesn’t, but for the sake of this exercise we'll pretend it does.
Enlighten the Darkness contextualizes the global politics of power metal in a way that sees the old world and new world come together in a type of NATO or Paris Agreement designed specifically for cheesy music. Angel Dust take the established power metal norms of their homeland and delicately cuts them up with a fine knife before garnishing the American power meat and potatoes that make up the bulk of this meal. The album opens up with the gut-punch that is “Let Me Live”—a fast and riffy song that wouldn’t be too out of place on a Helloween album if pitched up a bit. This energetic opener about a soldier exhilarated with the thrill of battle and killing yet longing for love and normalcy segues into much slower, neck crushing songs like the self-reflective “Enjoy!” At this point in the food analogy, you should understand that the garnishing is singer Dirk Thurisch’s wide-ranged and operatic vocal performance along with the piano and synths layered in a way that isn’t too overbearing and knows when to shine (just check out that intro to “Still I’m Breathing” to see what I mean). These lil bits of European flavor effortlessly accentuate the rest of the meal, most notably that punchy, groovy guitar tone. The riffs are played at you so constantly and aggressively that you feel relief when axeman Bernd Aufermann lays down a tasty solo—it’s like taking sips of wine between bites.
The lyrics progressively get darker as Thurisch laments the psychology of losing a war, closing out the album with the defiant and heavy “Cross of Hatred” and pensive and mournful “Oceans of Tomorrow,” a fitting end to
Enlighten the Darkness’ 52-minute runtime that neither feels too short nor too long. In doing so, Angel Dust effectively create a blend of two rivaling flavors of power metal—a peace treaty between Europe and America, if you will. Within this album, there is enough deviation between midtempo and fast-paced riffage that will appease both the tradheads and the Eurofans. The songwriting is fresh and unexpected and will have you excited for what might come next, with little to no dull moments between. Strong and memorable vocal performances will leave lines stuck in your head for weeks. Since hearing it for the first time earlier this year, I have repeatedly come back to it, giving it full spins every time—okay, that might actually be because I was tasked with reviewing it, but still! Without rambling any further, let it be known that
Enlighten the Darkness is truly a superb album worthy of its spot on any metal fan’s shelf.
