Album review: THE DARK ELEMENT – Songs The Night Sings

December 5th, 2019 by jason

Frontiers Music [Release date 08.11.19]

Dark Element is the second coming together of Symphonic Rock’s golden couple, Jani Liimatainen and Anette Olzon. One recorded 8 albums with genre giants Sonata Artica and Stratovarius, the other 3 albums with the genre’s pioneers, Nightwish.

And with Songs The Night Sings the matching of musical minds is really paying off.

If there’s such a thing as traditional Symphonic Rock, this is it. The album is an object lesson in how to do it, and get it right. Liimatainen integrates electronic music with traditional orchestral arrangements with Zimmer-esque flair and eloquence, creating mini symphonic rock epics of sonic brilliance, holding our attention from the first note to the last.

‘Silence Between The Words’ and ‘You Will Learn’ are remarkably assured pieces of work, driven by Liimatainen’s spine tingling orchestration, occasionally leavened by bursts of sharp edged axework. Each is gracefully furnished by Olzon’s bright soprano. ‘Not Your Monster’ is particularly marked by that same intensity, especially the manner in which Olzon caresses the higher notes.

The title track and ‘Pills On My Pillow’ are nearest thing that Symphonic Rock will ever get to great pop, and we’re ok with that. The latter has a memorably melodic, Max Martin of a chorus, grand without being grandiose. Liimatainen’s keyboard riffs spar and jab with the speed of a welterweight boxer, while meantime Olzon’s vocal dances around the ring, amusingly staying just out of reach.

That said, ‘When It All Comes Down’ and ‘To Whatever End’ are probably the picks. The first has a towering edifice of a hook, spiralling ever upwards, looking down on a line of wannabees stretching into the distance, all eagerly listening, watching, hoping they’ll get the next fifteen minutes. On the second, a piano and violin create a subdued sense of drama, allowing Olzon’s soprano to do all the heavy lifting, building the emotion to breaking point. Both songs have a live music thrill about them, and armed with compelling, “true-life” lyrics, they mark the songwriters and performers out as something really special.

What next? “Songs The Night Sings”, the musical? Wouldn’t be surprised. ****

Review by Brian McGowan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 14 April 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 9 April 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 29 April 2024

BRIGITTE PURDY Sugar Fried Candy (Dirtshack Records)
ATTIC THEORY The Legacy (indie)
THE HOWLERS I Need Your Love (indie)
VELVETEEN QUEEN Bad Reputation (indie)
WILLS AND THE WILLING Scuffed Knees (Smash & Grab Music Ltd)
READY THE PRINCE Still Believe (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 29 April 2024

09:00-12:00 PRAYING MANTIS Defiance (Frontiers)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023

To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to an X (Twitter) account

Tweets by Get Ready to ROCK!