For me My Dying Bride’s, ‘The Angel and the Dark River’ has always had a strong significance, because it was the first MDB album I heard and the first real doom metal recording I ever heard too. Going into it I really didn’t have any preconceived notions of what it was going to sound like. I had read that it was dark and gloomy, and that was more than enough to attract my interest. Now several years later this still remains my favorite creation from MDB and basically one of my all time favorite records.
On this third album MDB was going through a transition faze by making their music not nearly as heavy as previous recordings and perhaps taking their sound into a slight gothic territory. Lead singer Aaron also completely dumped the low growls in favor of just his morose weeping clear vocals, which I feel are still to this day some of the best ever recorded. When Aaron sings you can truly feel the misery in his voice and you stop and question what happened to this guy to make him sound so sad. Is he for real or is it just a gimmick (I always wandered back then, but eventually found out about)? As well, his lyrics about loss, anguish and dark romanticism, written in a truly poetic manner are simply marvelous. Of course there’s no overlooking Andrew and Calvin’s fantastic guitar work either, as both men provide some beautiful riffs and even bass player Ade has a big part on this record. However for me the thing that has always kept me coming back for more with this album is Martin’s lovely keyboard and heartbreaking violin efforts. His violin playing is gorgeous beyond any words but so very sorrowful sounding, while the keyboards often have that strong funeral-ish sound that has become a customary attribute in the doom metal genre.
Picking favorites from this album is no easy chore, but I must say that I’ve always been particularly drawn to, ‘The Cry of Mankind’ because of the mystifying poignant feeling it supply’s. ‘From Darkest Skies’ is also stunning, sounding like a slow funeral elegy to the base of hell, whilst, ‘Black Voyage’ has always been my favorite MDB song because of the dazzling violin and superb guitar work. Naturally, ‘A Sea to Suffer in’ is just as impressive, although the much slower,’ Two Rivers Only’ has always had a very special place in my heart as well.
The Angel and the Dark River is a testament of greatness in the doom metal genre and I really feel it’s the strongest album the band has recorded. Certainly many of the bands succeeding albums like, 'The Light at the End of the World' or 'The Dreadful Hours' have been remarkable listens but never did the band come close to sounding as moody, atmospheric, grief-stricken and even epic sounding as they did on this 1995 release. Definitely not an album to miss.
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