Earth's most beautiful and majestic record to date, "Angels of Darkness, Devils Of Light Pt. 1," is a perfect combination of doom and hope. Given that the sessions that spawned this album took place following Dylan Carlson's diagnosis of Hepatitis B, the sound makes sense, but only if you understand that no one but Dylan Carlson could make this record. Regardless of how many (countless) imitators have sprung up over the years, there is only one Dylan Carlson, and this album is yet another example of why he is one of our few living legends. On "Angels" the band sounds like the masters of the medium that they are. The band has a knack for making doom soulful and alive, even when it lulls you into a trance, a feat not easily accomplished, and one that I cannot begin to dissect or explain here. Earth's music simply breaths in the most primal and natural way possible, and in that breath is life and death and everything in between. The epic scope and contrasts inherent within have never been more apparent as they are on "Angels," at the same time the band balances light and dark here better than any album previously.
One of my absolute highlights of 2011 was sitting in the balcony at the Southgate House in Newport, KY while recovering from a thankfully infrequent bout of a reoccurring illness which may eventually spell my own demise as I age and watching Earth play one of the warmest and most comforting concerts of the year. Afterwards I got to briefly meet and talk to Carlson. I'll never forget shaking his hand. It was the hand of a guy who has seen a lot, but still maintained a smile. It was the hand of the guy who makes some of the very best music in the world, but who remains honest and humble. For a brief moment there everything was peaceful and joyful even as a whole lot of fear and sickness loomed. "Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light" is whole lot like that.
"Father Midnight"
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