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[ More Music Reviews ]

Black Horizon: Dark Light

Heavy/Power Metal

3.0/5.0

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Pure Steel Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 08.05.2019 | Released: 17.05.2019

Hailing from France, Black Horizon has been active in their country's underground metal scene since 1998. But in nearly 20 years their musical output has been limited. They dropped their first long player, The Choice in 2010. After a nine year silence Black Horizon returns with Dark Light. The album features Blaze Bayley and Vanden Plas' Andy Kuntz but, unfortunately, the label one-sheet does not tell us on which songs they appear.

Black Horizon

Essentially, Black Horizon plays heavy power metal rooted in the classic tradition. Characteristically, most songs revolve around strong riffs, a thick and heavy bass and drum presence, soaring guitar solos, and assertive, yet melodic, lead vocals. However, I'm not entirely sure I enjoyed Alex Puiseux's vocal style. Additionally, in their arrangements, the tempo is usually mixed, twisting between steady and brisk pacing. Often times the pace hastens with the guitar solo.

Putting these things together, I found many songs to have a heavy and foreboding sound, especially Watching, The Hunter, Obsession, Freedom, and Walking Close To Me. The album is called Dark Light for good reason. Alternatively, there's Miles Away, a metal ballad lead by piano and what sounds like a cello, before rising to a guitar solo. It's a fine song, but I would probably sound even better with a different singer. In the end, with Black Horizon's Dark Light my conclusion was one of ambivalence, the proverbial shrug of the shoulders where interest dukes it out with indifference. You may feel otherwise.

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Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

With Black Horizon's Dark Light my conclusion was one of ambivalence, the proverbial shrug of the shoulders where interest dukes it out with indifference. You may feel otherwise.

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