DARKWATER – Human (2019)
Nine years in the making, “Human” is the long-awaited third album from DARKWATER, and it surely won’t leave fans of melodic metal or progressive metal disappointed. The new songs are heavier and at the same time more melodic / atmospheric than before, and the band worked really hard on tweaking the ten songs and over 76 minutes of playing time into perfection.
Jacob Hansen (Evergrey, Amaranthe) was chosen to mix and master the album and he did a fantastic job which resulted in the best sounding Darkwater album to date.
‘Human’ is the perfect album for fans of melodic progressive metal and bands like Circus Maximus, Seventh Wonder, Queensryche, Dream Theater and Evergrey.
So with this tip you’re pretty much done. Darkwater is a terrific band.
The band currently consists of Simon Andersson on bass, Tobias Enbert on drums, Markus Sigfridsson on guitars, Magnus Holmberg on keyboards, and Henrik Båth on vocals / guitars. These players are still at the top of their game, as they offer thundering riffs, jaw-dropping fills, and piercing keyboard melodies. Henrik’s voice is one in a million and completely unforgettable.
“Human” is a long album, clocking in at about 76 minutes in length, yet never boring folks. It feels like a huge effort on the part of the band, both musically and lyrically. Musically, the band is playing their modern brand of progressive metal, but the amount of melody and the excellent mix really elevate the whole experience.
The album breezes by, feeling both heavy and melodic, dark and bright; like some fomenting storm of progressive brilliance.
All tracks are very strong, from the rush of emotions in “A New Beginning” to the eerie and Middle Eastern vibes of “Insomnia” to the riveting chronicle that is “The Journey”, every single track seems to be powerful and expertly crafted.
I mean, seriously, this album is a joy to hear from beginning to end, like a speeding locomotive of shining melody and powerful riffs.
“In Front of You” is my definite favorite on the album, at least at this time. It is grand in scale, cinematic in structure, and the main riff is gravy. “Alive” Parts 1 and 2 are theatrical, enormously melodic, yet feel very personal. It’s enough to give goosebumps, but dark enough that even I tend to keep my children from seeing it.
“Burdens” is heavy with piercing keys. It’s quite an emotive song, and the heaviness of the guitars really communicates the message. The last two tracks on the album are a great couplet.
The chorus of “Turning Pages” is probably the strongest on the album, and I absolutely love the keyboard arrangement. Honestly, the main riff gets stuck in my head all the time. I specifically love the lyrics on this song because of the feelings of leaving your broken past where it belongs: in the past.
The album ends on a beautifully crafted note of hope with “Light of Dawn”. The message here is to keep fighting, to keep pressing on to the hope within us. It’s a majestic and uplifting end to an epic journey.
While you easily can make comparisons, musically Darkwater are pretty unique.
Yes, on “Human” there’s a bit of Circus Maximus, Seventh Wonder, Queensryche (Mindcrime era), Dream Theater, etc, however Darkwater has avoided the common places. Yes, I already see “Human” as one of the Best Of 2019 prog metal releases.
HIGHLY Recommended
01 – A New Beginning
02 – In Front of You
03 – Alive (Pt. I)
04 – Alive (Pt. II)
05 – Reflection of a Mind
06 – Insomnia
07 – The Journey
08 – Burdens
09 – Turning Pages
10 – Light of Dawn
Henrik Båth – Vocals, Guitars
Simon Andersson – Bass
Tobias Enbert – Drums
Markus Sigfridsson – Guitars
Magnus Holmberg – Keyboards
Pre Order:
www.amazon.co.uk/Human-Darkwater/dp/B07KZ36DR3
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