ANGEL DUST - Of Human Bondage (Century Media)
Score: 5 out 5 Battle-Axes
I've been following Angel Dust since Century Media introduced them to the US in 1999 on their fourth album, Bleed. The band actually began in the mid-80s with a different lineup, releasing two thrash/speed metal albums, Into The Dark Past (1986) and To Dust You Will Decay (1988), before breaking up. The band reconvened in 1997 when original members Frank Banx (bass) and Dirk Assmuth (drums) recruited new members Dirk Thurisch (vocals), Steven Banx (keyboards), and Bernd Aufermann (guitar). The band signed to Century Media and released Border Of Reality (1998) in Europe only. Border, which gained a US release last year, was a bit more straightforward and possessed catchier choruses and riffs than the darker, more progressive Bleed and Enlighten The Darkness (2000). Of Human Bondage, which features new guitarist Ritchie Wilkison (who took over for Aufermann on the band's US tour last year), returns the band to hookier territory, and is their best work to date. Wilkison makes his presence known, with fat riffs that jump right off the disc (his traditional riffage on "Unreal Soul" is exactly what this band needed), and the rhythmic team of Frank Banx and Assmuth seem to have pumped up the headbanging frenzy as well. "Inhuman" might be the heaviest song they've ever written! Vocalist Thurisch is a true talent, having the ability to sing gruff and melodic within the same song. Just check out the deathy vocals he throws into the title track for flavor. And Steven Banx fills out the band's sound with the keys. While many keyboardists cheese bands out, Steven doesn't overwhelm the songs, he gives them a bigger sound and adds an eerie gothic quality ("Forever"). If you want songs you can bang your head to, this band's got it ("Unite," "Of Human Bondage," and "Inhuman"). If you want a terrific traditional metal song with a great chorus, they've got that ("Unreal Soul"). If you like melodic metal, that's here too ("Freedom Awaits"). If you want heartfelt, uncheesy ballads, Angel Dust can do those as well ("Disbeliever" and "The Cultman"). Plus they've even turned Seal's "Killer" into an amazing track. Of Human Bondage finds Angel Dust mixing the best elements of power, progressive, gothic, ambient, and traditional metal to come up with their own sound. They've written the album of their career, a recording that most bands can only hope for. (Chris Dugan)
