EARTH

Meditative, melancholic, and minimalistic, every instant of ‘Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light II’ bears a fragility all its own. The tones, the textures, the nuances of the improvised nature of the tracks are dense, hypnotic, and heavy, heavier in fact than any album with a distorted guitar at its core. The prominent cello work of Lori Goldston adds a ghost-like ambience to the low end as it gently sweeps and swells, and Adrienne Davies’ restrained drums are loose and catch the beat just as it’s about to fall. The spaces between the lines are left open for exploration, interpretation, and the subtleties of the band’s in-the-moment interaction creating a compelling call-response relationship with the listener. Every note lingers, hovers, hangs in the ether, their being allowed to brightly shine before fading back into nothingness. More doom in spirit than in sound, the tracks slowly unfurl in an album that is slow and introspective in its deliberation. The dramatic tension may be understated but it’s in no way no less powerful or moving. The album is sombre but never depressing and there’s plenty of light. Easily the accomplished counterpart to its very impressive predecessor, ethereal and enchanting, ‘Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light II’ is magnificent.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Southern Lord

Album

ANGELS OF DARKNESS, DEMONS OF LIGHT II

Review by Jason Guest

RUNNING TIME:

45:52

RELEASE DATE:

13th Feb 2012

TRACK LISTING

1) Sigil of Brass 2
2) His Teeth Did Brightly Shine 2
3) Waltz (A Multiplicity of Doors) 2
4) The Corascene Dog 2
5) The Rakehell 2

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

USA

"...the nuances of the improvised nature of the tracks are dense, hypnotic, and heavy, heavier in fact than any album with a distorted guitar at its core."