Border Of Reality
ANGEL DUST

Angel Dust are :
Dirk Thurisch on Vocals / Guitar
Frank Banx on Bass / Vocals
Steven Banx on Keyboards
Dirk Assmuth on Drums
Bernd Aufermann on Guitar / Vocals

The tracks are :
1. Border Of Reality (4:51)
2. No More Faith (4:11)
3. Nightmare (4:42)
4. Centuries (5:16)
5. When I Die (9:44)
6. Where The Wind Blows (7:36)
7. Spotlight Kid (4:21)
8. Behind The Mirror (8:14)
9. Coming Home (5:55)

Angel Dust have been around now for some 14 years and have been through some hard times caused by a series of line-up changes. Angel Dust sprang from thr promising underground band Overdose in the summer of 1994 featuring Dirk Assmuth on drums, Frank Banx on Bass and backing vocals, Andreas Lohrum on Guitar and Roman Keymer on Guitar and Vocals. This line-up played a mixture of Metallica, Exodus and Destruction and got a small deal with A.M. Disaster Records.

Angel Dust released 'Into The Past' in 1986 and caught the speed metal boom and received brilliant reviews in Germany, Poland and Japan. But Keymer's lack of ability to hanle the vocals and guitar work in a live situation quickly became apparant. To take some of the workload of Keymer, Angel Dust hired S.L. Coe to perform lead vocals for the band's live performances rsulting in the departure of Keymer and Lohrum

Two new members were found Stefan K. Nauer and Vinnie Lynn, who fitted perfectly into the Angel Dust sound. The band's second album 'To Dust You Will Decay' (1988) was recorded with this new line-up, and in spite of some excellent reviews, sold considerably less than it's successful predessor.

Angel Dust then did several tours and played with bands such as Blind Guardian, Tankard, Paradox, Sodom and Destruction. A sold out tour throughout Europe with Running Wild became a career highlight for Angel Dust, whose end came in the fall of 1989 due to internal and outside problems.

In 1991 Frank joined the melodic speed metal band Crows, together with Bobby Schottkowski on drums and Bernd Kost on guitar and vocalist Leczek Szpigiel. Crows recorded one album entitled 'The Dying Race' before they disbanded.

More than 8 years after the split, Frank and Dirk decided to reform Angel Dust, (early 1997) together with Frank's brother Steven Banx and Bernd Aufermann. When Dirk Thurisch joined in August, the problem of finding a vocalist that fitted into Angel Dust's melodic sound was solved.

The opening track is 'Border Of Reality', kicks the album of with attitude. Hard hitting riffs and kick-ass drums introduce this adrenalin pumping anthemic rock tribute.

The next track is 'No More Faith', an eerie atonal keyboard lead starts us off on this next track before the frantic drumming and strumming begins. A chorus that is so powerful it'll blow you away!

The third track 'Nightmare', one of the more relaxed numbers on the album. The percussion is very laid back and the whole song moves along at a very moderate pace. This is one of the best tracks on the album, mainly due to the fantastic riffs and chord progressions.

The next track 'Centuries', the 100 mph + speed guitar that explodes this song into life is unbelievable. The sound created is menacing and invigorating.

'When I Die', a very relaxing pan pipe tune introduces this beautiful acoustic ditty. That is, until the raucous guitar bursts in and hogs the limelight. At almost 10 minutes long, you'd expect it to get tedious and boring, but there is no fear of that due to the huge variety of different styles played in this piece.

The sixth track 'Where The Wind Blows', another track with a typical 80's pop/rock feel. The all conquering chorus is probably the best part of this track.

The next track 'Spotlight Kid', this track has a very edgey feel and is driven forward with determination by it's powerful riffs and drumming. The guitar lick's aren't very imaginative, but there is an extremely cool synthesiser solo part way through.

'Behind The Mirror', This sone starts with a sampled explosion and lots of radio fuzz. The start sounds like Depeche Mode until the guitars kick in with some unusual chord progressions before settling into a more comfortable rock scenario.

The final track is 'Coming Home', The best track on the album. It has a very solid beat and merges power with style. The changes in tempo and feel take a bit of getting used to, but once you are familier with them, you'll be hooked.

A hard hitting rock album with some imaginative parts in certain tracks that gives Angel Dust some credit.
Angel Dust's influences include such bands as Blind Guardian, Helloween, Deep Purple, Rush, Queen, Judas Priest, Savatage, Metallica and Dream Theater.
Border Of Reality is an album recommended lover's of melodic rock music!!

This CD is released by Century Media Records.
USA
1453-a 14th Street #324
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Phone : 310 574 7400.
Tel : 310 574 7414
mail@centurymedia.com
GERMANY
Schaeferstrasse 33a
44147 Dortmund
Tel : +49 231 8297 0
Fax : +49 231 8297 101
Email : dortmund@centurymedia.com
Website : http://www.centurymedia.com

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Bleed
ANGEL DUST

Reincarnated for another descent on the material world, the powerfully crafted quintet rains down firmly on a once destitute wasteland having not seen the rise for a new season in over a decade since they started.

"Bleed" roots itself in the finest metal tradition, bold, yet majestic in all its splendor where magic and tragedy exist hand in hand in what for them figures to be a more favorable climate than in years past.

A Savatage for all seasons as presented on their newest creation, Angel Dust leaves little doubt that room for talented musical expression still serves a useful purpose exemplified in such noteworthy moments of glory as with "Bleed", "Black Rain", and "Never".

Angel Dust will take you over and above the borders of expectation into the ranks of spiritual grace where shadows dance and nocturnal threats plod their perilous course.

This CD is released by Century Media Records.
USA
1453-a 14th Street #324
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Phone : 310 574 7400.
Tel : 310 574 7414
mail@centurymedia.com
GERMANY
Schaeferstrasse 33a
44147 Dortmund
Tel : +49 231 8297 0
Fax : +49 231 8297 101
Email : dortmund@centurymedia.com
Website : http://www.centurymedia.com

Review by Vinnie Apicella.

Buy The CD