Black Rain [PA] - Dark Lotus

Advantages: Ozzy at his lyrical best, teamed up with Wylde. Nostalgic!
Disadvantages: Very few. Still, doesnt beat his previous work.

...As i slipped in the CD into my ever faithful combo drive, the starter track sent goosebumps through me! Honestly, this is the least i've exaggerated in days! The sounds were an alloy of modern and heavy, with both spooky and marrowy guitar and bass parts. Surprisingly there's still plenty of nostalgic glam-rock guitar squeals, and I guess this is what the 80's rick would sound like if they had better distortion effects back then. Although Black Rain doesn't have a very original name, (considering that there's two novels, a Japanese movie, an American movie, a German music label and a Dark Lotus music album with the same title) the sounds are still absolutely original. From Ozzy's lyrical inspiration to Zakk Wylde's insane guitar, which is deeper and sounds more like sludge metal than recent releases, this album certainly deserves... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: DMX's RUFF RYDERS ANTHEM / superb lyrics, amazing DARK production, gritty flow - BITES!
Disadvantages: DMX's lyrics can be X-plicit and frightening for young children - SO WATCH OUT, GRRR!

...( real name: Kasseem Dean ) starts off his production for Ruff Ryders Entertainment. The production begins chillingly with the sounds of oriental bells and drums followed by dark bass lines and then shaking samples of keyboard beats. All these beats together create a HAUNTING atmosphere for something mysterious and exciting about to rise out of the DARKNESS. Then as soon as DMX starts to rap, BANG! The atmosphere lights up with a simultaneous mixture of oriental bells and other sounds to create a fast-paced, synthesized beat. Swizz Beatz makes his beats sound hotter with sizzling and crackling noises in the background, more like the burning sound of FIRE and LAVA. DMX freestyles, rapping about his hard personality and how his dog-like rapping skills can cause problems for his black rivals. In doing so he barks out street poetry from his... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Some stunning tracks, deeply moving in places
Disadvantages: Some may find it lyrically disturbing

...are quite good in a running about in the rain getting wet and enjoying it sort of way. The CD finishes with Black Day - a rework of Black Celebration but sounding like something of a mix between the Australian outback and a song from the film Deliverence. An unusual variation but it works well. Black Celebration was a watershed album that deliniated the old Mode from the new and set the scene with songs laced with sex, guilt, failure and dark lustings. Lyrically it feels like opening the door on to someone's innermost thoughts and as such makes for difficult listening in places although as whole has a cohesive quality that demands it be listened to in its entirety and in order. The album also marginally increases their use of guitars having previously been a purely synth band although there is also a heavy reliance on samples to... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful