On disc: Damnation Angels

 
 Shadow Symphony
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Bringer Of Light
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 

Bringer Of Light

(Massacre Records - 2013)



 
 

 

In 2009 I got an EP from the British band Damnation Angels it was called Shadow Symphony. Now they have a contract with Massacre Records and present Bringer Of Light. They have a new singer, Norwegian Pelle K as well a new guitarist, the six-string is now handled by Will Graney.



The opener Ad Finem could have been on any Kamelot album of the last decade, so you get an idea what to expect. The intro leads over to The Longest Day Of My Life, a long track which gives them time to tell a story. Personally I would have placed the long track not that early on the disc. After Reborn they present I Hope, a song they already released on Shadow Symphony, even if it sounds a bit different with new people in the band. The slow Acerbus Inceptum is more an interlude then a song which can stand alone, it leads over to Someone Else and Bringer Of Light - both have been released on Shadow Symphony. It's followed by Shadow Symphony, a song which slowly kicks off and give singer Pelle K a chance to shine. Then the song becomes a symphonic metal tune and again you'll find references to Kamelot. But later they surprise the listener with a part with raw vocals followed by a keyboard passage. No Leaf Clover starts bombastic, then they head into a passage with just keys and strings, just to go bombastic again. But somehow No Leaf Clover is one of the highlights off Bringer Of Light, perhaps because it's a sonic roller coaster ride. Partly the vocal line reminds me of something... it sounds quite familiar, but I can't fathom it. The closer is Pride (The Warrior's Way) and it has some new sound elements in it - good to add a new flavor. But it's also a long track, but what sounded great in the beginning, the new flavor made it a bit boring towards the end.



Anyway, fans of symphonic metal should give it a try. This is their full-length debut, so they can improve next time. Meanwhile check out Damnation Angels.



 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Shadow Symphony

(self-released - 2009)



 
 

 

The British band Damnation Angels was founded in late 2006 and have no almost 3 years later an EP out which didn't look like it's self-released. The artwork was done by renown cover artist Jan Yrlund. Musically the quintet offers symphonic power metal à la Kamelot which the opener Bringer Of Light shows quite well. The EP is well produced and has a much better sound then many self-released albums. The band definitely delivers high quality - also when it comes to song writing and skills.



Maestro who is the brain of Damnation Angels wrote all songs and lyrics. Beside opening song, you'll get Bringer Of Light as an instrumental version at the end of the disk. If an instrumental version is necessary? Well, you can just answer this for yourself. But due to the lack of vocals you focus more on the playing. And if you don't like instrumentals, just skip it.

With The Black Cancer they offer a very heavy, riff-based track which offers twists and turns. Singer Lewis Starfire shows here a wide range of expressive vocals. Mr. Starfire partly reminds me of Roy Khan, but also of Andy Engberg (ex-Lions Share)... With Someone Else they offer a powerful balladesque track which soon can hook you up. With I Hope they can surprise the listener with tempi changes, mainly a powerful up-tempo track, it also offers a slow symphonic passage. Quite catchy. At Against All Odds they vary a bit and add a refrain which live invites you to sing along. Okay, you can call them Kamelot clones, but even Kamelot needed time to develop and it seems that the British outfit will make it's way. For a debut this is very good, professionally done and I hope to hear more of Maestro and his following.

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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