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Beast In Black: Dark Connection

Melodic/Heavy/Power Metal

4.0/5.0

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Nuclear Blast Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 27.10.2021 | Released: 29.10.2021

Consistent with their history, Helsinki's Beast In Black returns with their third studio album, Dark Connection, after two years. Formed by guitarist and singular composer Anton Kabanen, Beast In Black once more offers their familiar melodic heavy power metal featuring lyrics and tales based in sci-fi, fantasy, and cyberpunk.

Beast In Black

Also of some note, some listeners may sense that BiB has bumped up the synth presence in their songs. While not necessarily overwhelming, Kabanen reveals his longtime love of early gaming music (as from Nintendo) and the use of midi-demos to build his synth layers in his cyberpunk metal. This is self-evident in such songs as One Night In Tokyo (some strong synth dance groove within), Moonlight Rendezvous, and Blade Runner, which quickly evolves into fast and heavy power metal.

Conversely, the strength of Kabanen's guitar lines, his riffs and leads, are preeminent throughout. With blistering resolve Kabanen roars through Dark New World, the forceful anthem Battle Hymn, Revengeance Machine, and To The Last Drop Of Blood with it's fine guitar start and sharp tones throughout. Perhaps something of nuanced twist, the song Hardcore turns upon the rock beat of the rhythm section and the rhythmic guitar riffs; it's fast, heavy, and rocks. Or some might say it has some European rave-dance groove (not unlike the aforementioned One Night In Tokyo, just heavier). All said, Dark Connection finds Beast In Black in consistent form, offering fans their twist of melodic power metal with synth-infused groove. If you dig it, get it.

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Dark Connection finds Beast In Black in consistent form, offering fans their twist of melodic power metal with synth-infused groove. If you dig it, get it.

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Here's a fun fact about Swiss legends, Gotthard: their last 16 releases, excepting their debut album, went to number one in their home country, making them one of Switzerland's most successful acts and ... [ Read More ]

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