Band Website
  Company Website
  Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
Asrai
Title
Touch In The Dark
Type
LP/EP
Company
Transmission Records
YOR
2004
Style
Gothic/Symphonic
Popular Reviews
1/12/2006 - Review by: Susan Wright
Asrai - Touch In The Dark - 2004 - Transmission Records

Track Listing
1. In Front of Me
2. Pale Light
3. Whisper
4. Restless
5. Touch in the Dark
6. Tower
7. Dream
8. Child
9. Garden
10. Shadows
First off, we must ask ourselves; does the world really need another Lacuna Coil? Isn't one punishment enough for our sins? THAT, dear readers, was my initial impression when the first pop/goth sounds of "Touch In The Dark" assailed my ears. My knee-jerk reaction was to dive for the stereo "power off" button and try to forget I ever heard of Asrai. Well, feeling in an adventurous mood, I decided to give it another try. Bracing up, I reminded myself I once sat through the horrors of a performance by the nu-metal comedy act Disturbed, just to see the band I really wanted to see, so this would be a piece of cake.

The first half of the album opener, "In Front Of Me", starts off a bit too pop oriented and mainstream friendly for my particular tastes. I wasn't overly thrilled with vocalist Margriet Mol's sound on this one either, but at about the halfway mark into the song, things took an unexpected turn. To my surprise, I actually found myself ENJOYING what I was hearing!

Things only picked up from there.

Simmering slabs such as "Dream" and "Child" hold all the dark intrigue of typical goth rock, but allow room for a heavier vibe to seep through. Margriet Mol's performance even garners kudos, as she picked things up well after what I thought was a weak performance in the beginning. Fans of bands like Lacuna Coil will find this a pleasurable experience, and non-fans of LC, such as myself, may even find themselves drawn in.



--Susan Wright 12.26.05

  • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
    N/A :AVE RATING

ALL REVIEWS FOR: ASRAI
TITLE
DOR
COMPANY
 REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
Touch In The Dark
2004
Transmission Records
Susan Wright1/12/2006
-

ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: ASRAI
INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


<< back >>
© Maximum Metal 2003-2022. All Rights Reserved. Metal Never Dies