Draged Into Sunlight - Hatred For Mankind

Fact; despite how popular it seems at this moment in time, most people have a healthy dislike of heavy metal, and do their best to avoid it altogether. This musical anonymity affords metal bands a level of creative freedom not afforded to musicians of any other genre, if close minded types aren't listening then they can't be upset. Despite this ideal platform for artistic expression, so little of any real substance is said. All genres have their cliches, but given the outlandishly creative nature of our music it's shocking just how unambitious metal bands can be. This is not to say that bands need reinvent the wheel to be relevant, we have our themes for a reason, but within these paradigms something greater can emerge. A metal band with b-grade politico punk lyrics would still be unoriginal and trite.

Dragged Into Sunlight's recently re-released Hatred For Mankind reinvents nothing, their crushingly heavy doom meets death sound is fresh but familiar. I must say before i continue that the album is patchy, the first track is by far the best track on the album, but at twelve minutes long i find it hard to care that the remaining five aren't as good. Nobody spends time quibbling over lackluster pieces from visual artists so long as they produce the odd masterpiece, surely now that it is no longer compulsory to buy music the same standards should apply to metal. This record has something to say, you may be able to guess from the title, and it says it so powerfully on opener "Boiled Angel/Buried with Leaches" that you will feel it for days. The track begins with some of the most potent doom I've ever heard before delving into more death like territory, ranging from a powerful swagger to absolute desperation. The message is consistent throughout; unrelenting misanthropy. Add to this song Justin Bartlett's stellar cover art, a series of overused yet still effective Charles Manson soundbites and the result is one of the most singularly powerful statements metal has produced in years. The rest of the album shouldn't be overlooked, were these songs on any other album they could well be stand outs, but the albums opening is deserving of a reverence usually reserved for art forms other than music.