Review by JD on January 13, 2009.

Angeldark, a band that is touted to do the Gothic Symphonic styled metal better than most anyone else has released the album called "Angelique". The question now comes to my mind... do they stand out in the Goth Metal scene more than most? Do they stand up to veterans like Crematory and others like that?

First off...They seem to have all the tools needed for such a thing to happen. Sweeping orchestrations that lull you and sort of carry you, until it hits and the sheer heaviness of their music batter through the serenity that is made and pulls you into that gloomy place that the more timid of people do not want to trod. They pound you withe pretty amazing guitar work that is in fact... impressive.

Angeldark are heavy, really heavy... almost having a thin shade of Black Metal to them, but don't be fooled... they are 100% Goth music. They are pretty good musically speaking, and have more than enough metallic bite to them to get most finicky of metalheads to take notice of them... but it is the darkness of both music and lyrics that makes them deliciously inviting. Songs like 'Wolf' and 'In My Dreams' are both musically pleasing while still sending shivers up your spine.

They show that Goth Metal like this is as good as some other more established genres that make up the melting pot that is Heavy Metal. My only critique to any of this is that I personally would have like a deeper sounding guitars throughout the entire album... other than that little speedbump in my head, it is still a great album that makes me smile.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 8
Originality:7
Overall: 8

Rating: 7.4 out of 10