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On The Loose - Dark Emotions - Reviewed By powermetal! Wednesday May 31 2023, 7:23 PM

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On The Loose - Dark Emotions - Reviewed By powermetal ! Check it out here at this link: https://www.powermetal.de/review/review-On_The_Loose/Dark_Emotions,40253.html

Sometimes you get acquainted with an album that seems boring or even weak on first listen, but once you listen to it you really enjoy it. But there is also the opposite way. That's how I felt with "Dark Emotions", the second album by the Portuguese band ON THE LOOSE.

The opener of the CD, 'Hearth Of The Ashes', is a bit reminiscent of the solemn pieces of IRON MAIDEN, and the singer also reminds one of Bruce Dickinson with numbers like this, an interesting track, even if it doesn't really go into the right direction seems to come. But after that it doesn't get any better. If my sparse information is correct, the group seems to belong to Doom Metal, usually named with an acronym. The leisurely pace of the disc certainly fits this categorization. The relatively high voice of the singer with his emotional to plaintive tone is more of a surprise. A "lava sound weighing tons", as a popular Doom Metal phrase goes, is also hard to make out. But of course a band can take liberties with their music, because it's secondary which drawer music is sorted into if it is well done. However, what makes the album lengthy for me is the directionless wobbling melodies. It's also irritating to occasionally hear an instrument in the background that I can't tell if it's a guitar or a saxophone.

One definitely has to give ON THE LOOSE credit for the fact that the music is skillfully and meticulously arranged. Again and again I was pleasantly surprised by individual passages. There's the consistently strong and variable drum work, the good guitar solo of 'Soliloquy In The Afterglow', the bass-carried lead-in to the duet 'A Stroll Along The Shoreline', but those bright spots lead nowhere. The music seems to be going in circles. Characteristic of this is 'Frozen Lassitude', which starts with an interesting, slightly Gothic-like intro, but then falls back into the usual rut.

As a reviewer, you strive for objectivity, although a subjective residue can never be completely switched off. If the spark didn't jump over here, that might be the fault of the band as well as the critic. This mixture of Doom, Modern Metal and other ingredients, which places much more value on sound and arrangements than on melody and dramaturgy, can't convince me despite some strengths. But I can easily imagine that there will also be an audience for ON THE LOOSE and "Dark Emotions". powermetal

Release Date: April 7th, 2023

FFO: Crypt Sermon, Doomocracy, Demon Lung

Location: Tavira, Portugal

On The Loose new album ‘Dark Emotions’ will bring you a bit of despair. After releasing the first opus in 2022 On The Loose is back with a new singer Pedro Fialho. João Ventura keeps the sticks on fire, Covas brings a bass from the depths of hell and Marco Marouco delivers all guitars and musical composition. After unexpected good vibes from radios all around the globe, many good reviews from webzines, magazines and blogs, in Portugal was considered record of the month by Caminhos Metálicos, in Germany Epic Metal Blog gave a
90 in 100 On The Loose is in constant spinning in Austria Seeds of Doom radio show. On The Loose is back bringing a full NWOBHM/DOOM album with 9 tracks. The album was produced by Portuguese underground master Paulão. Paulão worked with many underground bands like Ironsword, Ravensire, Filii Nigrantium infernalium, Perpetrator, Midnight Priest and almost all Portuguese punk bands, from Albert Fish to Mata Ratos.

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