| Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light II | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Studio album by Earth | ||
| Released | February 14 2012 | |
| Recorded | April & July 2010 at Avast! Recording in Seattle, Washington, USA | |
| Genre | Drone, Post-Rock Experimental | |
| Length | 45:53 | |
| Label | Southern Lord Records | |
| Producer | Stuart Hallerman, Dylan Carlson, Adrienne Davies | |
| Earth chronology | ||
| Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light I (2011) |
Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light II (2012) |
Primitive and Deadly (2014) |
Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light II is the seventh full-length album by Earth. Recorded in a series of sessions in the Spring and Summer of 2010, it would be the second of a two-part series. Along with core members Dylan Carlson and Adrienne Davies, Angels would feature bassist Karl Blau and cellist Lori Goldston. Cello is introduced as a new instrument, along with the usual ones being used since the album Hex. Dylan Carlson describes the album as more melodic and riff oriented.[1] The album illustrations were created by Stacey Rozich.[2]
Background[]
Work would begin on new Earth material at Avast! Recording in Seattle with Stuart Hallerman in April 2010, with more sessions in July. The album would be mastered by Mell Dettmer at Aleph Studios that October. There would be a sense of urgency in the sessions as Dylan Carlson had been battling with liver failure and chronic Hepatitis B, fearing that this may be the last Earth album. Notably both Angels of Darkness albums were written with a sense of improvisation, with the tracks being arranged from most composed to most improvised.[3]
Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light II would be released via Southern Lord Records on 14 February 2012 (Valentine's Day). Like it's predecessor, Angels would receive critical acclaim. Grayson Currin, writing for Pitchfork and awarding a 7.9/10 score, praising the band's performance as "a band comfortable not only with its quiet but also with how a listener can hear clearly from one side of the mix to the other (compared especially to the impenetrable stuff of two decades ago). This is the epitome of cool, quiet confidence.".[4] David John Wood, writing for No Ripcord and awarding a perfect 10/10 score, .[5] citing the record as it "contains some of the most original and hypnotically brilliant rock music ever recorded. Moments of light are allowed to shine into the gloom that earlier Earth albums groaned under the weight of. These moments add a more human dimension to the music, but the darkness is still ever-present, pervasive and insidious. The music exists in a timeless space – invoking ancient ritual and ceremony – like the American West as described by Cormac McCarthy, at odds with the modern world."[6]
Other notable reviews include the likes of AllMusic (4/5 Stars),[7] Thrash Hits (6/6)[8] and Tiny Mix Tapes (5/5) among others.[9]
Tracklist[]
- 1. Sigil of Brass (3:32)
- 2. His Teeth Did Brightly Shine (9:00)
- 3. A Multiplicity of Doors (13:04)
- 4. The Corascene Dog (8:26)
- 5. The Rakehell (11:51)
Personnel[]
- Dylan Carlson - Electric Guitar, Producer
- Adrienne Davies - Drums, Percussion, Producer
- Lori Goldston - Cello
- Karl Blau - Bass
- Stuart Hallerman - Engineer, Producer
- Mell Dettmer - Mastering
- Stacey Rozich - Artwork
- Earth - Art Direction
- Aaron Edge - Layout, Design
- St. Dunstan - Liner Notes
- Kyle Hanson - Typography