Album review: THE DARKER MY HORIZON – When Two Worlds Collide

Website [Release date 09.09.22]

This latest album from the Darker My Horizon (TDmH) delivers 12 tracks and 3 bonus recordings, including two charity singles.

The album literally has been a work of blood, sweat and tears with a reflection on relationships, this is what happens when two people’s worlds collide, be it good or bad, here’s some songs that will resonate.

Paul Stead, lead singer/writer, talks about why ‘Gaslight’ was chosen as the opening track of the album, he confirms it was difficult to choose and that there were 3 or 4 songs that vied for that position. However, ‘Gaslight’ won out, with Paul saying “it’s like putting a cassette tape into a car stereo and not knowing what’s going to happen, it hits you straight in the face”. There’s everything in this song from the opening guitar solo and melodic riffs to the meaning in the lyrics, many of us will relate to those scenarios.

Next up is ‘Heartbeat’ is all about unplanned pregnancy, how scary that can feel and stepping up to fatherhood and forming a family unit. “You know I’ll be there for you …. To catch you if you fall”

‘Timing ( Is Everything)’ makes me smile as soon as I hear the first chord, an upbeat track with a message for all those whose love and life is perhaps not quite as they thought it might turn out, “happy mother, unhappy wife”.

‘Same Damn Moon’ sees Paul on his own tackling a bluesy/country track.

Absolute standout track of the album for me is, ‘Waste of Oxygen’ which from the opening, sounds just like Metallica, it’s not but it certainly pays homage to them and heavy rock. What a track, seriously.

‘Imperfection’ is a reflection on the reality of relationships beyond that initial dating ‘perfection’ phase. A very relatable track, with an 80’s rock vibe, showing how love evolves and those imperfections are just part of life. The guitar solo by Mark Stephenson is immense.

The next track ‘Stay’ was written for a couple of TDmH family who were getting married, it’s a beautiful song, and knowing them as well as the band, it’s a testament to all, that this track is on the album, it certainly deserves to be heard more widely.

‘Down’ has a heavy bass line throughout showcasing the Neon Warrior, Paul Hamilton’s skills, and Russ Barnett on drums, it’s a melodic track even with the rather ominous lyrics, TDmH bringing their darker side to the fore.

You can’t have a TDmH album without some ballads and ‘Can’t Breathe’ and ‘In the Dark’ (released on the first album, now remixed with the whole band involved) fulfil this need.

‘Propaganda pt 1’ the charity single released to support the Ukraine is sandwiched between the ballads, but it’s no filler, this track was probably the early indicator that this album would be heavier and with a message within to society.

Closing out the album with ‘NYC’, this is classic, from the catchy hooks, to Paul’s soaring vocals, and the rhythm – if you like heavy, melodic rock this album is for you.

This relatively new line up is working together well and this album, 3 years on from ‘Seize the Day’ showcases how far the band have progressed and it is packed full of rock – enjoy! ****

Review by Karen Clayton

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)