DARK ANGEL

Their debut album ended high in my Top 3 of 2007 so I was very keen to hear this album. Matthew warned me that this new album would become heavier than their previous well-received angel, but ".I think you'll like it..." . A few songs have already been played live; "Dark Angel" indeed a bit heavier, but still melodic and fabulous, "Breaking the 4th Wall" & "Sharp Sea" were fantastic and here and there some pounding drums and breaking guitar riffs. But even for a softy like me, highly enjoyable. You can imagine how frustrated I was when my copy got lost in the canal somewhere. So I had to grab it from their merchandise table when they played at the Borderline. If their debut album landed in the Top 3 of 2007, then this album could end in the Top 3 of this decade. yes dear readers, this is a marvellous album and I am overwhelmed.

The album: It starts directly with the up tempo beat of the title track "Dark Angel". This proggy metal essay has a slightly different touch than when it was played live. And Owain Roberts, the new guitarist lays down a fabulous solo. Indeed a dark heavy song which shows why Rachel Cohen has won several awards for her golden voice. A great way to kick off. Their trademark is the three differently styled splendid vocalists with a mix of ethereal heavy complex compositions and their twin guitars. Some will like the heavenly voice of Rachel, others are in ecstasy when they hear the raw voice of Dylan Thompson (but oh so sweet in "In the Future") and I know a lot of people who will tell you that Gareth Jones' voice is flawless and absolute brilliant. Choose whoever you want, but when they melt together, it becomes something unique, something to die for, something we call The Reasoning. . The album includes a few counterpoints and that makes it interesting and surprising. "Serenity", with the speaking voice of Matthew Cohen, is such a counterpoint. If you've the dvd, you'll notice that the song has indeed a goal. "Absolute Zero" is another one, a more mellow song with a slightly jazzy touch. But with a great depth and again those magnificient harmonies. This song has become a highlight of their live show, with great crowd participation. But most of songs are heavy or have a least a tricky metal twist. Like "Call me God? " and the killer "A Musing Dream" and I, the soft-progger in this dream theatre, I like them a lot; they're gorgeous . . Guitars all around and I think the new lad in town Owain Roberts deserves some credits for that. The rhythm section is always there to give the songs body but also a nice metallic groove. Rachel has proved she is a great essayist in fiction and expressive in her personal reflections. But the newbies Dylan and Gareth have proved that they're able to learn quickly and they have written some great lines again. Most of the music is written by the new metal glimmer twins Matthew & Dylan and Gareth co-wrote on 2 songs. A great collaboration between the band and John Mitchell (Arena, Kino, It Bites etc) who mixed the album, which has led to a consistent rocky album without a bad song on it.

This is no fledgling with a second album, this is an angel that came out of the dark and brings us some enlightenment with complex songs which Rocks on a fluid metal underlayment. A lot of people will get to know them in the near future. So watch this flight of The Reasoning and join them on their trip. 9++/10 without a doubt.

Nick from the lovely South of the Netherlands @ www.mostlypink.nl