DAMNATION ANGELS
“FIBER OF OUR BEING”
Album Review by Iron Mathew

8.5/10

Damnation Angels are a symphonic metal band from the UK, forming in 2006, and releasing their debut E.P. ‘Shadow Symphony’ in 2009. With reviews comparing the band to Avantasia and Blind Guardian , the band went on to release their first full length album ‘Bringer Of Light’ in 2013. The bands sophomore album ‘The Valiant Fire’ was released two years later, with the band touring Europe, and receiving media attention via music magazines, such as Metal Hammer. ‘Fiber Of Our Being’ is the bands third album, released in 2020, and features the bands new singer Iggy Rod (Azeroth).

Featuring nine songs over a fifty five minute play time, Damnation Angles continue their assault on the symphonic metal genre with their third album ‘Fiber Of Our Being’. Armed with a new singer, the album shudders into life with the hugely melodic, and foot tappingly addictive ‘More Than Human’. Hard rocking and fairly upbeat, ‘More Than Human’ is an infectious opener that triggers a “this is not bad” reaction – all the while your head nodding and feet tapping in rhythmic accompaniment. With a more up front and blunter attitude, ‘Railrunner’ hits like a steam roller as it begins, adopting a majestic and heavy thump of a rhythm as it strides forth. An anthemic sing a long chorus takes ‘Railrunner’ into the realms of an in concert crowd sing a long moment – a moment you’ll wanna be a part of… Title song ‘Fiber Of Our Being’ is the heaviest song heard so far, and fairly rocks and knocks hard as it swaggers forth. The opening triple salvo from Damnation Angels has had three different slants on the bands sound – keeping you hooked and in wonder, as to which direction the album will take next…

…and ballad country is where we’re headed next, with the Bon Jovi-esque ‘Our Last Light’. Passionately delivered and emotionally driven, ‘Our Last Light’ is a mellow march with lighters held aloft. And now for a glorious gallop – ‘Rewrite The Future’ is a bombastic blast of heavy hitting metal – hitting with the force of a sledgehammer and leaving a permanent mark. ‘Rewrite The Future’ nods its head to the galloping style of British heavy metal, pioneered, developed and evolved during the glorious eighties. Kudos Damnation Angels for not forgetting their roots, and what flag of what country they’re flying… The heavy hitting yet melodic style that has run through the album so far, takes on a slightly progressive feel with the sharp edged bustle of ‘Fractured Amygdala’, rising to the surface a bit of a Symphony X influence. Damnation Angels are not afraid to experiment with their sound, pushing every boundary of their chosen musical direction to breaking point.

Sublime keyboards breathe life into ‘Greed And Extinction’, breaking into a fiery furore, as it takes flight with aggressive intent. The fastest song on the album, ‘Greed And Extinction’ gives the listener the first real opportunity for some proper head banging – and a chance to raise the horns high in salute to a cracking thunderstorm. With only two songs remaining, Damnation Angels proceed to deliver a monolithic thirteen minute long offering…thirteen minutes of varying styles of metal. ‘Remnants Of A Dying Star’ is a gargantuan composition of so many influences and inspirations, it would take me years to list ’em all (so I won’t) – but a highlight is the heavy hitting anthemic style of bands such as Manowar and Sabaton. ‘Remnants Of A Dying Star’ is a song to lean back, close your eyes, and relax to, to get lost in and just enjoy every one of its thirteen minutes. And believe me, the enjoyment level is high. The curtain closer on a very memorable album is ‘A Sum Of Our Parts’ – a second visit to ballad country. Driven by passion, ‘A Sum Of Our Parts’ is a mellow end to a melodic album, a “warm down” from the energy and bombast of the last fifty plus minutes.

Overall, a melodic mix of metal and hard rock, Damnation Angels deliver an infectious and highly addictive listening experience.

TRACKLIST

More Than Human
Railrunner
Fiber Of Our Being
Our Last Light
Rewrite The Future
Fractured Amygdala
Greed And Extinction
Remnants Of A Dying Star
A Sum Of Our Parts

http://www.damnationangels.com/
https://www.facebook.com/damnationangels/

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