MY DYING BRIDE SONGS OF DARKNESS, WORDS OF LIGHT ALBUM PEACEVILLE, SPP RELEASE: FEBRUARY 18, 2004 REVIEW: JANUARY 28, 2004

Cheerful as always, these British lads take us on a journey through the darkest recesses of the human soul – and beyond. I didn’t realise how much I had longed for a new release from My Dying Bride until I put "Songs of Darkness, Words of Light" in my Discman.
You see, I hold "The Angel and the Dark River" as one of the best metal albums, ever. Or at least as one of the premier records in the gloomy genre of doomy goth metal. And "The Dreadful Hours" (2001) sparked a hope in me that My Dying Bride just might have it in them still.
I was right.
"Songs of Darkness, Words of Light" is probably the best produced record by MDB yet, full of nicely crafted dark songs and great lyrics. Aaron Stainthorpe sings better than ever – but still growls from time to time – and the whole album breaths rejuvenation for the band. Strangely though, the tears that trickled down my chin the first time I listened to "The Angel…" and the fear that grips my heart when I hear "The Dreadful Hours" is nowhere to be found. The production, although great, is almost too polished, too streamlined. This may be just what the band need to break into the mainstream and gain new listeners, but I, for one, miss the old MDB. Even the song writing, flawless as it is, is somewhat more targeted towards a larger audience – listen to "My Wine in Silence" and you will see what I mean.
"Songs of Darkness, Words of Light" might become the greatest commercial success yet for MDB, and they deserve it. They just have to really watch out, so that they don’t become too polished. Then they will have a real reason to sing sad songs. And I will cry - for all the wrong reasons.

KALLE MALMSTEDT