Dark Connection
The keyboards get even more room on Beast In Black's Dark Connection. Dance rhythms are firmly present and the melodies have a distinctly sweet side. The guitar work remains strong enough to give the music weight. The band make no secret of their pop instincts and do not try to hide them behind a rougher sound.
Bella Donna has plenty of force in its riffs, but the chorus and rhythm pull it towards the dance floor. Highway To Mars follows comfortably. Together, they show how naturally the band connect electronic movement and heavy guitars. The playing is tight and the melodies get to work quickly.
Yannis Papadopoulos remains an important reason for that success. His voice can become high and fierce without losing the melody. He gives the choruses a strength that the lighter keyboard parts need. The guitars contribute sharp solos too. There is more happening than a large vocal line over an automatic beat.
Moonlight Rendezvous makes the futuristic atmosphere more obvious. The electronic sounds fit the record's science-fiction setting. That connection helps the album become more than separate, strikingly catchy songs. Even when the balance between metal and pop changes, the identity remains recognisable.
The drawback is that the enthusiasm hardly stops. As the record continues, the constant emphasis on large gestures and sweet melodies can become tiring. Not every change offers genuine relief. Dark Connection therefore works best when you are willing to accept its excess. The band understand this approach well and provide enough strong melodies to justify it. This is colourful, energetic music that takes its lighter side as seriously as its heavy guitars. Your tolerance for that balance will decide much of its appeal.
