Edge Of Sanity - Purgatory Afterglow (1994) (Japanese VICP-5453)

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Edge Of Sanity - Purgatory Afterglow (1994) (Japanese VICP-5453)

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Edge of Sanity is(was) quite an enigma in music, switching from classic Swedish Death Metal at the beginning of their illustrious careers to releasing one of the most epic pieces of music as their magnum opus, Crimson. But somewhere between these two stages falls Purgatory Afterglow, one of the most intense and brutal releases of their career, but also the most varied album they ever recorded. Purgatory Afterglow is such a brilliant piece of work, but under the shadow of the legendary album to follow, it seems to be disregarded as simply a prequel to Crimson when in many ways, Purgatory Afterglow surpasses that album. To start, the production job done by vocalist Dan Swano suits the music perfectly, something almost impossible to accomplish on an album this varied.

Whether behind the mixing boards or the mic, Swano is certainly the highlight on the album. His ability to switch between an almost inhuman growl to hauntingly amazing clean vocals is simply outstanding. From the opening section of Twilight to the punishing growls of The Sinner and the Sadness, Swano shows why he has become one of the most widespread and respected names in heavy metal today. Behind Swano lie the twin killing of Sami Nerburg and Andreas "Dread" Axellson on guitars. Thanks in great part to the previously mentioned production job by Swano, Edge of Sanity's axemen deliver a punishing assault that’s not only heavy and reminiscent of the bands death metal roots, but is also catchy enough to stick in your head for days after listening to the album. The primary riff on Twilight remains one of my favorite sections of any song to this day.

The rhythm section of Anders Lindberg on Bass and Benny Larsson on drums get the job done without doing anything spectacular. The drumming fits the music perfectly, flashing to a flurry of double bass at times and slowing down for more rocking numbers such as Black Tears and Elegy. Lindberg's bass work is slightly buried in the production, but like the drums, fits the music well and stands out when it needs to.

Twilight is the standout track on the album for me, as it has remained one of my personal favorites since I first heard it transition from the atmospheric beginning passage to the punishing riff that follows. Black Tears is another track that stands out, but may cause some fans to hesitate, as the album shows almost no trace of the bands death metal roots, but instead showcases EoS's ability to integrate and more rocky feel to the music. Song of Sirens is the one track to be ignored, and all that is keeping this album from perfection. The song seems to showcase itself as a failed attempt at writing modern New York Hardcore. Needless to say it’s nothing to write home about, or write anywhere about for that matter. But it is still not enough to bring the album down much, it still presents as a heavy metal classic, and one of my favorite albums ever.

~ www.metal-archives.com