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The Angel and the Dark River/Live at the Dynamo '95

My Dying Bride - The Angel and the Dark River/Live at the Dynamo '95 Audio CD

A fair review of the My Dying Bride "The Angel and the Dark River/Live at the Dynamo '95" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all My Dying Bride reviews here, or go back to the My Dying Bride tabs.

Band: My Dying Bride
Title: The Angel and the Dark River/Live at the Dynamo '95
Rating:

Release Date: 1996-05-28
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Cry of Mankind 2: From Darkest Skies 3: Black Voyage 4: Sea to Suffer In 5: Two Winters Only 6: Your Shameful Heaven 7: Sexuality of Bereavement 8: Your River 9: Sea to Suffer In 10: Your Shameful Heaven 11: Forever People

From Utter Loathing And Scorn....
. . . This masterpiece was somehow born. Angel And The Dark River is MDB 'clean' album, meaning there are no gruff vocals at all. (With the exception of the last track) But don't let this discourage you, the CD is absolutely brilliant! From The Cry of Mankind, A Sea To Suffer In and Your Shameful Heaven this CD offers no shortage of dark and moody songs begging for the darkest of hearts to come and embrace them. Yes I'm being dramatic but I'm NOT exaggerating, it's that good. The version released with bonus live disk is worth getting if you can find it (it's still easy enough) as it gives you a tatse of MDB live and full of emotion! If your a fan of My Dying Bride and you don't own this CD I ask you; Why the hell not! If you enjoy dark and extreamly depressing music then Angel And The Dark River is a must have for your collection. Five stars all the way!.

Violins in a band bring out the best.
My personal first experience with violin in a band such as this is with Tristania. While violins in a dark/goth type band are nothing new (often dating back to the 1970's), if the band can integrate them with their sound - or better yet, build their sound around their violin - they will truly stand out as the best of the best. In this reviewer's opinion, this band is on a higher level to Tristania, in terms of their integration of the haunting sounds a violin can produce - though this album's sound is truly different than any of Tristania's.

The vocals are truly masterful, bringing the words to dance upon the darkest of minds in a deathly beautiful ballet of melody. As an artist who plays the violin himself, this album can not be rated higher. Buy it; you shall not be dissapointed.

A Staple of the Doom/Goth Metal Style
The thought of a violinest in a metal band realy got my attention. When I first found out about My Dying Bride I was immeadiatly intreagued. The only thing remotly similar to "violin metal" that I had heard was some of King Crimson's mid 70's material which is absolutly amazing. Anyways I had to hear this band. So I went out and picked up "The Angel & the Dark River". I was blown away to say the least. The album was as close to perfect as any metal album I'd ever had the privledge of hearing before or sience.
My Dying Bride is made up of many enticing elements. First of all there are Aaron Stainthorpe's powerful vocals. Ranging from deep gothic vocals to whiny wailing moans (and going into the realms of death and black metal vocals on other albums) Aaron's vocals are able to meet any neccicary style needed for this album. His lyrics focus on the loss of faith, the loss of love and deep, dark, lust. Then theres Martin Powell's beutiful violin work. This is the X factor that brings the album from great to all time classic. He also plays some very haunting piano and keyboards. Then theres the unforgettable drumming of Rick Miah. No simple fills here, Rick fills the album with great drum fills and mad beats without ever overusing them (unlike his replacment Shaun Steels). Add in amazing riff after amazing riff and an indescrible atmosphere and you get "The Angel and the Dark River".
The album kicks off with "The Cry of Man Kind". With one riff repeated over and over for the entire song one might imagine that the song would wear out its welcome, but by covering it with insane rhythems, classical piano and semi-guitar solos the first six minutes fly right by. Aaron's lyrics about Jesus looking down at the destroied Earth and regreting his sacrafice give the song an apocoliptic ambiance. The next six minutes contains a bunch of gothic sounds such as a choir, an old whispering woman, crickets and a. . . tugboat? This gives you some time to think back on what you've just heard. "From the Darkest Skies" is probably the best song here. Switching between sorowful violin, crunchy guitar riffs, and powerful organs, the song never stops twisting and turning from start to finish. Aaron's vocals are good enough to bring you to tears as he cries "I'll breathe in you, I'm a fool, just for you". Then theres the nine and a half minute epic "The Black Voyage". After a lenghthy violin led intro, the song moves along a doomy path until it hits the middle. At this point the music softens into a slow, dark, pulsing, funeral-doomish style as Aaron groans about entering hell. "A Sea to Suffer In" starts with some great gothic pianio before an unforgettable violins solo. At the 1:35 mark there is the best drum fill I have ever heard. Anyone who appricates drums must hear this masterful drumming. The rest of the song conatains an onslaught of great riffs and deep gothic vocals. This song competes with "From the Darkest Skies" for the title of best song on the album. The next song is a complete change. "Two Winters Only" is very ballaidesque. After a lenghthy classical guitar led verse the drums kick in the violin and metal into a dramatic chorus. After the second verse theres a real cool thirty second metal part and then the song ends with one more dramatic chorus. "Your Shameful Heaven" starts out with a lone violin playing a heartbreaking solo that is unforgetable. The rest of the song is a lustful conclusion to the album as Aaron snarles "The only real ache is between your legs". The song is dark and filt with spite.
Some versions of the album (such as this one) contain a bonus track "The Sexuality of Beverment", which although a great song is not meant for this album. My Dying Bride did not choose to put this song on the album. The record company added it and to be quite honest, it just doesn't fit in. The songs at least three years older then the other material here and is therefore written in a very different style. Also the song contains death metal vocals, and although I adore Aaron's growls, they're not meant for "The Angel & the Dark River". Some versions (again this one, for example) contain a short live album, which is pritty good, althogh the live album "The Voice of the Wreatched" is a more complete live disc (although it suffers from no actual violin, but thats another story. . . )
With "The Angel & the Dark River" My Dying Bride has created an album that will be look at as a staple of the goth/doom metal scene for a long time. The album is essentail for any fan of My Dying Bride, dark metal, or anyone who simply loves different and creative music.

the best slow goth,black metal album ever
the vocals, and music go greatly together,. if you like goth metal, and you don't have this cd, your missing out.

Purity
The music is quite different than any MDB album to date, as it is more subtle; less focuses on metal-oriented riffs and perhaps their most "doomy" one. This album contians some of the most beautifully produced aspects of sadness, and beauty.
The atmosphere on this album means alot to me, and every note taken from this piece seems to be divine and bond to your emotions as much as music could do.
This is pure apocalyptic perfection, and I advice you to experience it, if you are worthy.

You can see a complete list of all My Dying Bride discography, or go back to the My Dying Bride tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.