The long awaited debut album DARK DAYS & BRIGHT NIGHTS by the Austrian band LUNA RISE has finally arrived. The album is played out on a contrasting balance of opposites. Light and dark, day and night, soft and loud are all present as well as represented in the Yin-Yang shaped fusion of the moon and sun on the cover artwork. The 12 songs are also equally divided into those that are associated with the DARK DAYS and those associated with the BRIGHT NIGHTS.
DARK DAYS & BRIGHT NIGHTS, is an absolutely stunning, mature album. It covers lots of ground – from dark rock to hook-laden, heavy gothic grooves and straight down the road melodic rock, that easily outshine the best hooks on the band’s previous works – and each new note is easily taken in stride. The production is perfect for the material – showcasing Andy Earth’s scream-tinged riffs and Chris Divine’s all-encompassing vocals while managing to stay loose and natural, and not forced or clinical as some major-label releases.
LUNA RISE take huge pains in transforming their sound between dark and bright here, as they broaden their musical horizons and overall spectrum. A lot of quality studio sounds come out of this very song-heavy, deep album that has tons to offer in terms of mood-inducing soundscapes. Interestingly, many of the songs contain unique bridges, breakdowns and transitions from moment to moment. In that way, it’s quite an ambitious recording. They even find the time to completely transform a cover of the 1984 Ultravox song, “Dancing With Tears In My Eyes”. But they do much more than that!
The album opens with the otherworldly metal pumeling of “Demons Inside” and continues to captivate the listener through furious mind bending rockers like “RZRKT”, “Silent Screams”, “Worshippin’ Shadows” and “In Your Arms”. Throughout, this album delivers undeniably great music. It’s thoughtful, stirring and personal, with guitar parts you can easily get lost in, and when LUNA RISE slow it down a little they become much more than mesmerizing. As on tracks such as “The Secret In You” and “The Anthem Of The Night”. But it is when they totally open the faucets of creativity that the band truly excels. This happens frequently, and more precisely on “For A Reason”, and “Silent Screams”.
DARK DAYS & BRIGHT NIGHTS is so much more than just an album of great rock songs or stunning instrumental performances. It is more than the ominous blend of crunching guitar riffs, the arpeggiated solos and the soaring vocal melodies and bass-lines. Jarring and alluring at the same time, it is the intricate layers of sound that enter and exit at will, as well as the really complex, engaging hooks that penetrate your subconscious as each song moves through its intrinsic contrasts.
DARK DAYS & BRIGHT NIGHTS is a powerful piece of music, complete with head-banging guitar riffs and keyboard soundscapes with melodic but muscular lead vocals. But what’s unique and excellent about LUNA RISE is how they write and perform actual melodies, and their ability to mix in a variety of volumes, tempos and textures. The album is a vigorous, empowering, never-stopping set of rock tracks that hits you fast and hard. It feels so epic when you listen through the tracks. Though it displays pure power DARK DAYS & BRIGHT NIGHTS shows the band’s dynamic ability to use soft and smooth all the way through to angry and loud!
LUNA RISE: Chris Divine: Vocals, Talkbox, Acoustic Guitars, Additional Electric Guitars – L.X.: Keys, Backing Vocals – Andy Earth: Rhythm + Lead Guitars – Rob Rocket: Bass – Loup-Garou: Drums.
Check Out More about Luna Rise:
Luna Rise – Official Website : http://www.lunarisemusic.com
Listen To Luna Rise @ Spotify : https://play.spotify.com/artist/2gOyUqu0HAnxk3neoxqXud
Listen To Luna Rise @ Deezer : http://www.deezer.com/artist/4649884
Luna Rise @ Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/lunarise
Luna Rise @ Bandcamp : http://luna-rise.bandcamp.com
Luna Rise @ ITunes : https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/luna-rise/id482267037
Luna Rise @ Google Play : https://play.google.com/store/music/artist/Luna_Rise?id=Autah5gh7tbygcweyu7xfawim4u
Luna Rise @ NRT-Records : http://www.nrt-records.com/luna_rise_eng.html
