Dead Light Shines' Debut Will Blind You

Dead Light Shines

The debut album by Dead Light Shines will catch you by surprise.  This Arizona-based progressive metal band may be newcomers on the scene, but they are at the top of their game.  "Fall To Rise" is a complex musical collection, held together with tight composition and arrangements.  The songs flow seamlessly together to create a brilliant concept album.

I have long said that metal is the new classical music.  This genre is the vehicle for the creation of symphonies of sound every bit as intricate as anything composed by Mozart.  This is evident in the ear-blasting songs by Dead Light Shines.  There is a trick that they do - I don't know how they do it.  Take the pounding drums of Jeremy Wall and the bass-slapping of Kelly Morales and combine these into a lurching rhythm that is like the gears of a race car engine with no oil, about to explode.  Then combine these with the buzzing riffs of Norm Wall.  It's like clockwork with components spinning and careening, threatening to collide and fall apart.  But it all stays together and creates a sonic landscape that is at once tachychardic and evocative.

I had the privilege of watching some of these guys growing up as musicians in the small cow town of Saint Johns on the Arizona/ New Mexico border, the nearest incorporated town to my ranch.  They always had tastes in music that went beyond the pop/ country that seemed prevalent in their hometown.  Kelly once told me, in regard to the thrash metal movement of the '80s, "I was born 10 years too late."

But after listening to "Fall to Rise", I am convinced that they were born right on time.  These songs are sometimes dreamy and contemplative and sometimes explosive and raw, sometimes reminiscent of great bands like Tool or Dream Theater.  Bree Cole's mournful vocals dominates most of the album while Shaina Rock-Wall lends her pipes to three of the tracks.  Guest vocalist Greg Norris sings on the final track, "Too Deep", which is one of my favorite songs on this collection.  Other favorite tracks are "Where I Belong", "The Descent", "Lost In You", "Even If I Die", and "In the Dark".  But, really, the whole album is good.

This album is a strong opening.  If it is any indication of how good, I can't stop listening to it.  Right now, the band is in the studio, putting together a collection of new songs (which I will review).  The band also has a new line-up.  I am excited to see what else they will do.  Definitely check them out.