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Dark Connection Review

Beast in Black - Dark Connection
Band
Albumpreview 

Dark Connection

TypeAlbum (Studio full-length)
Released
GenresHeavy Metal, Power Metal
LabelsNuclear Blast
Length59:18
Ranked#63 for 2021 , #3,054 all-time
Album rating :  83.5 / 100
Votes :  21  (2 reviews)
Reviewer :  level 4         Rating :  85 / 100
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.
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Line-up (members)

  • Anton Kabanen : Guitars, Keyboards, Orchestrations, Backing Vocals, Music, Lyrics
  • Yannis Papadopoulos : Vocals
  • Kasperi Heikkinen : Guitars
  • Máté Molnár : Bass
  • Atte Palokangas : Drums
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Dark Connection
▶  Dark Connection Review (2021)
level 4 EFMB15   85/100
May 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...
Berserker
level 21 구르는 돌   90/100
Sep 18, 2023       Likes :  2
Battle Beast가 Unholy Savior를 발표한 직후, 밴드의 기타리스트 Anton Kabanen이 밴드를 떠나게 되었다. 공식적인 이유로는 음악 방향을 거론되고 있지만, 이를 믿을 사람은 별로 없을 듯하다. Battle Beast의 노선과 Anton Kabanen이 결성한 Beast in Black이 비슷한 양상의 활동을 벌이고 있기 때문이다. 아마도... Read More
Berserker
level 13 Harlequin   80/100
Nov 10, 2017       Likes :  1
요즘은 락페에서 각 장르별로 기존 음악에 댄서블하고 상쾌한 리듬, 혹은 전자음을 접목시키는 밴드들이 되게 많더라. 펑크락이든 얼터락이든 가요든 그게 요즘 메인스트림의 트렌드 같다. 이 밴드는 그런 시대적 흐름에 맞춰 대중들이 흔히 생각하는 헤비메탈 이미지를 적절히 각색하곤... Read More
Info / Statistics
Artists : 47,264
Reviews : 10,431
Albums : 170,244
Lyrics : 218,142