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Review: Dark Mirror - Portrait of Evil
Dark Mirror
www.darkmirroronline.com
Portrait of Evil

Label: Killer Metal Records
Year released: 2009
Duration: 49:42
Tracks: 11
Genre: Heavy Metal

Rating:
3.25/5


Review online: December 1, 2009
Reviewed by: Hermer Arroyo
Readers' Rating
How do you rate this release?

Rated 3.72/5 (74.44%) (18 Votes)
Review

Portrait of Evil is the sophomore album of U.S. metal band Dark Mirror. I haven't listened to their first album but after hearing this I really don't want to. Sonically the band is a bunch of capable musicians but their songwriting style doesn't break any new ground at all. I've heard the stuff here before, but I can't say if it was better or worse than any other band. However, the main reason that I found this band to be annoying was their singer, which almost manages to completely ruin the good things that this album has to offer.

You see, his high pitched voice is most of the time off-key and out of control, it's like he doesn't know how to deliver a good vocal melody. If I had to make a comparison, he would sound like the singer of 3 Inches of Blood without the gruffness and charisma. The one redeeming factor about him is that he can pull some pretty impressive screams, so I'll give him that much. Fortunately, the rest of the band is much better, especially the guitarists. They won't amaze you with technical ability but instead they provide heavy (albeit common) riffs and melodic solos that will leave you satisfied.

Their style resembles the U.S. underground metal scene; if you love bands like October 31 and Twisted Tower Dire this band will be right up your alley. Songs like "Forever Young", "Red Carpet" and "From the Ashes" are catchy and the limitations of their singer are somewhat covered. However in most of the songs, Dark Mirror puts the singer front and center and the result is not as good as the band want it to be. That is a shame because there is some kick ass stuff in Portrait of Evil, I truly believe if another vocalist were in charge this record would have been a really good one. As it stands, it is an above average Heavy Metal album and if Dark Mirror wants to take the next step then their singer must improve or at least hide his deficiencies.

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