Dark Moor - Between Light And Darkness


Year of Release: 2003
Label: Arise Records
Catalog Number: AR039
Format: CD
Total Time: 50:00:00

Before the new Dark Moor album arrives later this year with their new vocalist delivering more of their exciting symphonic power metal, out comes an EP of sorts with the band delivering a soulful set of acoustics on the first half and some blasting, symphonic bonuses on the second half.

First up are the four acoustic tracks (one of which is an instrumental). Dark Moor have not only written great songs but have really captured the essence of acoustic songs with depth and feeling throughout. I can't tell you how good this sounds. Vocalist Elisa Martin (yes, a woman) has a tremendous voice that, whilst better suited to the loudness of screaming guitars and over-the-top keyboards, sits very nicely within the confines of these acoustic numbers. Her accent is more accentuated in these softer numbers, but the thrilling parts of this album [are in] the sinewy showing of the musicians and [the] song-writing [as they] have written some monstrous soft numbers. The addition of harps, flutes, classical guitar, violins, cellos, and pianos adds a wall of maturity to these songs that takes you with them as you listen. I'd most closely associate their sound with Angra and their acoustic tracks.

The second half of this album, comprising four songs, are the bonus tracks from the Japanese and Korean releases of The Gates Of Oblivion and The Hall Of Olden Dreams and finally an orchestral version of the song "Dies Irae" from their last album The Gates Of Oblivion [you mean more orchestral than the original version? - Sarcastic Ed (PPO)]. The songs, tempo-wise, are a mixed bag with some epic numbers and some slower numbers but they vary significantly in length. I know there are more bonus tracks out there that I would have loved to have heard on this album (maybe something will arrive in the future?).

Long and sweet is this nicely balanced album that showcases the softer side and the symphonic power metal side of a band who had at their disposal a terrific lead singer (she has since gone on to perform in Fairyland and her new band Dreamaker).

Similar To: Angra, Rhapsody

[This review originally appeared November 2003 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]
Tracklisting:
A Lament Of Misery / Memories / From Dusk To Dawn / Echoes Of The Sea / Dies Irae (Orchestral Version) / The Shadow Of The Nile / Mystery Of Goddess / The Fall Of The Melnibone

Musicians:
Elisa Martin - vocals
Enrik Garc?a - guitar & backing vocals
Albert Maroto - guitars
Anan Kaddouri - bass
Roberto Pe?a De Camus - keyboards
Jorge Saez - drums

Discography:
Shadowland (1999)
The Hall Of The Olden Dreams (2000)
The Fall Of Melnibone (ep) (2001)
The Gates of Oblivion (2002)
Between Light And Darkness (ep) (2003)
From Hell (ep) (2003)
Dark Moor (2003)
Beyond The Sea (2005)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin ES

Added: December 11th 2004
Reviewer: Gary Carson
Score:
Artist website: www.dark-moor.com
Hits: 2951
Language: english

  

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