The Light - 2025 - The Light

(42:26; Fastball Music)






















Track list:
1. Swinging 4:09
2. War 4:22
3. Toxic Dependence 4:51
4. Fall 3:51
5. Train to Nowhere 3:18
6. Paradise 4:21
7. Run 4:24
8. Call My Name 4:41
9. The Light 4:01
10. You Will Never Know 4:28

Line-up:
Holger Terhorst - guitars
Alex Scherz - bass
Nick Antonelli - vocals
with:
Sven - drums


German band The Light was formed back in 2024, and it seems the band has been rather busy ever since they were officially formed. Now in the spring of 2025 they have signed up with German label Fastball Music, and their debut album "The Light" has subsequently been made commercially available.

It is a steady going variety of heavy metal we get on this album, and while the style and sound explores rather familiar waters most of the time this is also one of those albums that should have a broad and wide general appeal.

Those fond of the good, old guitar riff being placed squarely in the limelight in songs that explore a landscape rather thoroughly will feel right at home with the material present here, with most songs being very steady going affairs with only relatively minor alterations appearing for the chorus section or an instrument solo. We do get a few songs with a bit more expressive attitudes as far as structure goes, but steady going is the order of the day here.

I would describe most of these songs as having a bit of a traditional heavy metal foundation, with a tone and mood that possibly has a little bit of a doom metal inspiration to them, but with riffs and instrument details that at times are closer related to the more commercial aspects of thrash metal. Think Metallica's "Black Album" as a point of reference. But without the groove-oriented movements being all that much of a presence.

For my sake I find this album to be most interesting on a couple of occasions when the band venture a little bit outside of this core sound. The elegant, reverberating light toned guitar used on the more ballad-oriented 'Toxic Dependence' helps to create an elegant and tension-filled experience that makes this composition a standout one for me. And the more or less subtle inclusion of more distinct post-punk elements on the concluding 'You Will Never Know' is another example of a song where the band takes a step or two away from their core foundation where the end result is very much interesting indeed.

Those who tend to enjoy the more steady going varieties of heavy metal and also enjoy the slower paced, more broadly appealing varieties of 90s thrash metal should find themselves quite at home with the moods, atmospheres and landscapes explored on this production I'd think. Not an album that breaks any new or novel grounds, but a broadly appealing creation that I suspect many will find to be quite the pleasant experience.

Olav M. Björnsen, April 2025

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/thelightmusic
https://www.fastball-music.com/

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