DARKWATER – Where Stories End [Remastered 2022]

Swedish act DARKWATER is reissuing their out of print 2010 album “Where Stories End“, now completely remastered with a punchy sound output. Darkwater is one of those bands which embraces a factor to so common in progressive metal; melody & harmony. And they are pretty impressive on that.
Every song on “Where Stories End” is filled with hooks that grab you from the very beginning and depth that will keep you coming back for more and more. Lush keyboards, chugging guitar riffs, and soaring vocal harmonies all paint a perfect landscape on this album.

Darkwater plays traditional progressive metal with an early ’90s feel wrapped by a bright modern production, with influences ranging from the most accessible Dream Theater and TresserAct to Queensrÿche.
No, this isn’t the most unique list of influences in the world, but it definitely works.
Darkwater’s sound is modern and fresh, yet still pays homages to some progressive metal classics. There’s a lot of clever synths on ”Where Stories End” as well, something we like a lot.

There are 9 songs on this CD, and all of them are terrific. My favorite is probably ‘Why I Bleed’. I absolutely love the chorus to that song. Every song is noteworthy, though.
The musicianship of this band is great. Henrik Båth’s vocals are fantastic, and one of the highlights of Darkwater for me. He simply has a great tone and incredible range. Magnus Holmberg’s keyboards add just the right amount of atmosphere into Darkwater’s music, allowing for Markus Sigfridsson to provide heavy riffing and swirling solos. Tobias Enbert’s drumming is on the simpler side for a prog metal album, and this benefits the groove and the catchiness lead by the guitars / synths
An interesting little thing worth noting is the presence of Simon Andersson (ex-Pain of Salvation) on bass due to the departure of previous member Karl Wassholm.

”Where Stories End” is much more than your average progressive metal album. It’s melodic, catchy, with hooks.
There is generally a dual approach of midtempo with occasional fast elements in most of these songs, contrasted with a side order of balladry. The former category owes much of its stylistic demeanor from Dream Theater’s Awake, with maybe a few elements of the darker character of the same band’s later works, whereas the balladry reminds just a bit of 1990s Queensryche.
Sweden is a nation filled to the brim with superb progressive metal bands – I think it’s time to put Darkwater up there with the best of the best.
Highly Recommended

01 – Breathe (Remastered 2022)
02 – Why I Bleed (Remastered 2022)
03 – Into the Cold (Remastered 2022)
04 – A Fools Utopia (Remastered 2022)
05 – Queen of the Night (Remastered 2022)
06 – In the Blink of an Eye (Remastered 2022)
07 – Fields of Sorrow (Remastered 2022)
08 – Without a Sound (Remastered 2022)
09 – Walls of Deception (Remastered 2022)

Henrik Båth / vocals, guitar
Markus Sigfridsson / guitars
Magnus Holmberg / keyboards
Simon Andersson / bass
Tobias Enbert / drums

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