UMUR
"Darker Than Black" is the 3rd full-length studio album by US, California based power/heavy metal act Cage. The album was released through Massacre Records in April 2003. It´s the successor to "Astrology" from 2000 and features one lineup change since the predecessor as guitarist Eric Horton has been replaced by Anthony Wayne McGinnis.
The three years since the release of "Astrology (2000)" have been spend well, because while both "Unveiled (1998)" and "Astrology (2000)" are good quality US power/heavy metal albums, "Darker Than Black" is in a whole other league. Cage were always a skilled and very well playing band, and lead vocalist Sean R. L. Peck is an outstanding singer with a strong voice and a commanding and passionate delivery. That haven´t changed on "Darker Than Black", but the quality of the songwriting and the production values have increased significantly compared to the preceding releases.
Stylistically Cage play a heavy and relatively dark type of US power/heavy metal on "Darker Than Black". Think Judas Priest when they are most heavy and aggressive ("Painkiller") and you are half way there. There´s great intensity and energy on display here and paired with the powerful and raw vocals by Peck, the heavy and fast-paced riffs, the blistering guitar solos, and the energetic and powerful rhythm section, "Darker Than Black" comes off a high quality release in the genre.
"Darker Than Black" is through and through a high quality release, and there´s not a single sub par track on the album. It´s consistent in quality and style, but still relatively varied. Including both an English- and a Spanish language version of "Chupacabra" is a small curiosity, but since the band are from San Diego, where a large part of the population are latin country immigrants or descendents of immigrants, it makes perfect sense (and of course the tale/legend of "Chupacabra" is a Latin America tale).
Upon conclusion "Darker Than Black" has been a positive surprise and definitely a recommendable US power/heavy metal album. High level musicianship, intriguing and effectful songwriting, and loads of heavy metal attitude and passion. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.