With their new album, Everchild, Leipzig based Art Rock luminaries DARK SUNS get me into hot water. Five years ago, the predecessor Orange was a tricky mixture of Hard Rock, Progressive and Psychedelic but always somewhat catchy, compact and much enjoyable. But I don’t get used to Everchild. I actually love brave bands that leave known paths and try something new. Everchild is such record, but it doesn’t touch me any bit. And that is not due to the wind section on the record, much the opposite. It fits the DARK SUN sound very well, is fresh and lively and adds a jazzy note.
It is more the fact that Everchild acts over-ambitious, too distant, less straight and at some points even lengthy. Crispy Rock passages disappeared almost completely. This album turns out to be quiet, relaxed yet aimless. It would be easy now to say it is due to the “softness” of Everchild, but yes, it is indeed a fact that missing outbursts, changing dynamics, gruff parts and edges make musical finenesses going under, while the album rambles along. It makes me angry, because I want to like this record yet there’s not enough to help me with it. I miss the rigor I find in atmospherically similar bands such as Riverside and Porcupine Tree. More compact songs, a shorter running time… who knows.
Only the bonus track, a cover version of Tori Amos’ Yes, Anastasia stands out, and partly the album’s title track Everchild. It is truly a pity. DARK SUNS wants too much and lose sight of the tracks in doing so.