Dark Sanctuary - Dark Sanctuary

Release Date: December 4th, 2009
Label: Wounded Love Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Ame de Décembre
2.  Sous les neiges éternelles
3.  Omnes fluctus tui
4.  L’hiver est fini
5.  Fin de vie
6.  Enfantement
7.  Orpheline
8.  Lullaby
9.  Le tribunal
10.  Le cachot
11.  Le chemin vers la délivrance
12.  Incomprise

Total playing time:  58:12

December 6, 2010

Reviewer: M.J.

Dark Sanctuary has been around for quite some time and has released some finely honed dark gothic/neoclassical music. Dark Sanctuary is their seventh studio album. Setting a high standard of quality, they are still at the forefront of their genre. For the uninitiated, let it be known that Dame Pandora has one of the most beautiful and enchanting voices on the planet. Her captivating voice dominates the whole of Dark Sanctuary and is often layered to create choral arrangements or used in interesting ways which allow her to duet with herself.

While Dark Sanctuary never wears the full cape of metal, the elements they employ to create mood and drama are certainly not dissimilar to the stalwart medium. So it makes perfect sense that a large portion of their audience is comprised of metal fans.

As expected, when cracking into this disc that there is little ado with “Ame de Décembre” waltzing into earshot with sustained, low vibrating tones of a keyboard and piano. Immediately the atmosphere turns brooding while anticipation builds awaiting Dame Pandora’s sweet entrance. Sweeping in with elegant grace, she occupies the upper space with her extraordinarily angelic voice. The contrasting lows of the piano and the silvery highs of her vocal range are simply heart stopping. A violin solo takes the song to its mournful end. This becomes a roughly fashioned pattern that propels Dark Sanctuary as it twists along on its engaging journey. “Sous les neiges éternelles” is immersed in soft washes of keys and bell-like tones that echo in and out, in velvety cascades amid lush vocal melodies. The piano makes its return on “Omnes fluctus tui.” Entwined with a haunting violin and keyboards, it’s shaded with whispered spoken words. The swells of Dame Pandora’s soprano coupled with crashing drums bring it to an end in glorious overstated fashion.. “Fin de vie,” “Orpheline” and “Le cachot” lead to the epic “Incomprise,” which ends the album on a solemn and reverent note.

Dark Sanctuary, stunning and beautiful from start to finish, becomes a spiritual awakening that showcase Dame Pandora’s amazing vocal prowess. One needs no further proof that the band endures as one of France’s most beloved treasures.

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