Angel 7: Black And White | Electro Black Metal
(2006 – Bombworks Records)
Who would come up with such a mix? Well, obviously to these two guys who together form Angel 7. We are talking about Nicolay Kiriljuk and Slava Malinin, two geniuses from Ukraine, who came up with the crazy idea of joining a genre like Black Metal with electronic elements. Surely they didn’t invent anything, but, “Black And White” deserves a chance, at least to see how this experiment turned out.
First of all, let’s confess. We had this production in storage since 19 years ago and we were never able to make the corresponding review. So, late but sure, let’s see what this project called Angel 7, which exists since 2001 and is still active, is all about. To tell the truth, this work that we have in our hands, is the English version of Angel 7’s second album released in Ukrainian language originally in 2004, perhaps as a way to break into other markets, especially English-speaking ones.
Well, “Black And White” consists of 12 tracks, among which there are several instrumental pieces. His style can be defined as a mixture between Industrial Metal, with electronic elements or from synthesizers used for that purpose, and obviously what is Black Metal but beware, Angel 7 accelerates almost all the time, although it sounds a little strange with so many electronic elements. In many passages we will be able to notice that instead of guitar picking, we have keyboard effects or strange synthesizers, as it happens with “TV Antichrist” or in “Jerusalem”. The songs have an epic air in many cases, or at least that is what is intended. Their background instrumentation takes us through melodies that have a lot to do with classical or epic music. In other songs like “New Heavens Above The New Land” we will notice a lot of guitar work, and great solos. In “The Price Of War” is perhaps the most interesting of this work, together with “Force Of Belief And Love” and the already mentioned “Jerusalem”, far their best song.
The instrumentals “Spirit Of Freedom” and “From Darkness In Light” are very interesting, and although it may seem unreal, it is where Angel 7 shines the most.
The biggest problem we find in the overall production of this album. We can notice a mostly handmade work, with a lot of work and experimentation in the studio, leaving a rough and clearly digital sound, surely with origin in the programming elaborated for this album. Being two people in the project, this seems obvious, although perhaps it would have been better to work with guest musicians. Purely personal opinion. Although there is a lot of strong guitar sound, the sound of the guitars is perhaps not the best and has its limitations. It lacks perhaps a little more color and playing with different sounds. Obviously the biggest sin is in the final mix, not quite accurate, but let’s not be so pretentious with a clearly independent album and with a project that at that time was just beginning.
Regarding the graphic aspect of this edition, the same is correct, although the truth is that I did not understand the cover much, nor does it indicate that I am in front of an album of extreme music, but quite the opposite. Advice, don’t get carried away by what your eyes see on the cover of the album. The rest of the booklet is also good. Thumbs up to the physical edition. There is not much to say about the themes in the lyrics other than that they are Christian lyrics, direct and straightforward.
Angel 7 is still active to date, at least as far as we can tell. We have not yet been able to hear their latest works, but at least from this work we can notice that beyond the issues highlighted, “Black And White” is still a good attempt to do something different in the extreme genre. Maybe for the extreme music fundamentalist this is a sacrilege but anyway it is worth the experiment.
To find this pearl, you can try https://boonesoverstock.com or the band’s official page on social networks.
