Angel And The Dark River, The - My Dying Bride

"The Angel and the Dark River" is My Dying Bride's 1995 album, an almost classical-sounding piece of work featuring epic song structures and probably the best use of violins I've ever heard in any rock album.

This album very much continued the band's departure from their death-metal roots, a journey which had really begun with 1993's "Turn Loose the Swans" (see my review of that album for more details) and which ...
...brought alive by Aaron's non-more-depressed vocals and some beautiful violin work. This almost isn't metal at all, and although it's possible- just about- to categorise it, perhaps as "symphonic doom metal" or "goth metal" or whatever subgenre you feel might be most appropriate, it really does sound like nothing else.

This is an album that feels almost classical in a sense. The mood varies from tranquil to powerful, ... more

"The Angel and the Dark River" is My Dying Bride's 1995 album, an almost classical-sounding piece of work featuring epic song structures and probably the best use of violins I've ever heard in any rock album.

This album very much continued the band's departure from their death-metal roots, a journey which had really begun with 1993's "Turn Loose the Swans" (see my review of that album for more details) and which here is transformed into six long, epic tales of woe brought alive by Aaron's non-more-depressed vocals and some beautiful violin work. This almost isn't metal at all, and although it's possible- just about- to categorise it, perhaps as "symphonic doom metal" or "goth metal" or whatever subgenre you feel might be most appropriate, it really does sound like nothing else.

This is an album that feels almost classical in a sense. The mood varies from tranquil to powerful, the pace is gentle and never hurried, and each guitar riff carries with it as much emotion as you would be lucky to ge in an entire song by any other band.

The track listing says it all really. Each title carries with it the impression of fragile splendour, suffering and beauty in equal measure that is intertwined with the songs themselves. The track listing is:

1. The Cry of Mankind
2. From Darkest Skies
3. Black Voyage
4. A Sea to Suffer In
5. Two Winters Only
6. Your Shameful Heaven

Of all these tracks, my favourite is "Black Voyage" which showcases the violin as beautifully as is possible. My other favourite is possibly the 12-minute plus "The Cry of Mankind" which features in its heart a lengthy ambient interlude which is truly evocative.

There are only 6 tracks on the album, but their sheer quality and their length (making the album over 50 minutes long) makes this well worth checking out. If you obtain this album, be sure to play it by candelight, or in the pitch darkness, loudly, and preferably with your lover. This is powerful, romantic music, and to appreciate it properly, electric lights should be forbidden.

One of the very best albums by one of the very best bands.

 

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