Dark Connection Review
| Band | |
|---|---|
| Album |  Dark Connection |
| Type | Album (Studio full-length) |
| Released | October 29, 2021 |
| Genres | Heavy Metal, Power Metal |
| Labels | Nuclear Blast |
| Length | 59:18 |
| Ranked | #63 for 2021 , #3,055 all-time |
Album rating : 83.5 / 100
Votes : 21 (2 reviews)
Votes : 21 (2 reviews)
May 23, 2024
The year is 2049. Flying cars are commonplace. Artificial intelligence has been given the right to vote and Iron Maiden is planning its farewell tour. Brazil has just won its 30th gold medal of the millennium in football. The heavy metal band Beast in Black has made a current album where lasers wave, neon lights create their cold atmosphere and the back seat of airplanes is consumed in the sign of loose relationships between humans and cyborgs.
Anton Kabanen is one of the most advanced song writers of his time, whose pen produces merciless earworms from album to album. "Dark Connection" is Beast in Black's third full-length, and continues directly from where the previous one left off. The mood is fast-paced, and synthwave and barracks pop-style patterns shine through the influences most clearly. This does not surprise anyone even remotely familiar with the band. What is more surprising is that the aforementioned influences are brought out even more brazenly and clearly. And this is a good thing. The music is more synapop flavored with metallic elements than the other way around.
The song material is consistent across the board, with the exception of a few fillers. The opening track "Blade Runner" and the lead single "Moonlight Rendezvous" are shaking the most, the music video of which seems to have a few glimpses of a band that served as a source of inspiration. The tracks are rolled at a breakneck pace, and you won't have time to notice all the hooks and hooks on the first listen.
The expression is fresh and playful, and if anything, it is suitable as a counterbalance to the cold dystopia visions. An interesting additional spice is the bonus track "They Don't Care About Us", which is one of the best Michael Jackson covers ever. The song is yet another excellent demonstration of Yannis Papadópoulos' singing skills.
"Dark Connection" is a strong album, but time will tell if it will have the status of an evergreen. One thing is certain: the work is an unashamed eulogy of retrofuturism from start to finish.
Anton Kabanen is one of the most advanced song writers of his time, whose pen produces merciless earworms from album to album. "Dark Connection" is Beast in Black's third full-length, and continues directly from where the previous one left off. The mood is fast-paced, and synthwave and barracks pop-style patterns shine through the influences most clearly. This does not surprise anyone even remotely familiar with the band. What is more surprising is that the aforementioned influences are brought out even more brazenly and clearly. And this is a good thing. The music is more synapop flavored with metallic elements than the other way around.
The song material is consistent across the board, with the exception of a few fillers. The opening track "Blade Runner" and the lead single "Moonlight Rendezvous" are shaking the most, the music video of which seems to have a few glimpses of a band that served as a source of inspiration. The tracks are rolled at a breakneck pace, and you won't have time to notice all the hooks and hooks on the first listen.
The expression is fresh and playful, and if anything, it is suitable as a counterbalance to the cold dystopia visions. An interesting additional spice is the bonus track "They Don't Care About Us", which is one of the best Michael Jackson covers ever. The song is yet another excellent demonstration of Yannis Papadópoulos' singing skills.
"Dark Connection" is a strong album, but time will tell if it will have the status of an evergreen. One thing is certain: the work is an unashamed eulogy of retrofuturism from start to finish.
2 likes
Track listing (Songs)
| title | rating | votes | video | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Blade Runner | 4:08 | 88.8 | 4 | Music Video |
| 2. | Bella Donna | 3:53 | 85 | 3 | Audio |
| 3. | Highway to Mars | 5:13 | 90 | 4 | Audio |
| 4. | Hardcore | 3:34 | 83.3 | 3 | Music Video |
| 5. | One Night in Tokyo | 3:07 | 89 | 5 | Music Video |
| 6. | Moonlight Rendezvous | 5:39 | 92.5 | 4 | Music Video |
| 7. | Revengeance Machine | 4:09 | 85 | 3 | |
| 8. | Dark New World | 3:57 | 81.7 | 3 | |
| 9. | To the Last Drop of Blood | 3:55 | 86.3 | 4 | Music Video |
| 10. | Broken Survivors | 4:25 | 86.7 | 3 | |
| 11. | My Dystopia | 5:51 | 85 | 3 | Audio |
| 12. | Battle Hymn (Manowar cover) | 6:54 | 83.3 | 3 | |
| 13. | They Don't Care About Us (Michael Jackson cover) | 4:32 | 88.8 | 4 |
Line-up (members)
- Anton Kabanen : Guitars, Keyboards, Orchestrations, Backing Vocals, Music, Lyrics
- Yannis Papadopoulos : Vocals
- Kasperi Heikkinen : Guitars
- Máté Molnár : Bass
- Atte Palokangas : Drums
4 reviews
| cover art | Artist | Album review | Reviewer | Rating | Date | Likes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | | ▶ Dark Connection Review (2021) | 85 | May 23, 2024 | 2 | ||
 | | Berserker Review (2017) | 90 | Sep 18, 2023 | 2 | ||
| | Dark Connection Review (2021) | 85 | Dec 13, 2021 | 0 | ||
| | Berserker Review (2017) | 80 | Nov 10, 2017 | 1 |
1
▶ Dark Connection Review (2021)
EFMB15 85/100May 23, 2024 Likes : 2
The year is 2049. Flying cars are commonplace. Artificial intelligence has been given the right to vote and Iron Maiden is planning its farewell tour. Brazil has just won its 30th gold medal of the millennium in football. The heavy metal band Beast in Black has made a current album where lasers wave, neon lights create their cold atmosphere and the back seat of airplanes is con...
