These German Power Metal legends are one of the few bands to ever have successfully managed to return to the scene after some years of break between their '80s origins and the present. Obviously, with four albums ever since their 1997 "comeback", the band deserves the full credit for the hard work spent on re-establishing their name and profile. Initially started as a rough and aggressive Speed- and Thrash Metal act in 1984, Angel Dust's early incarnation recorded two albums (The Dark Past in 1986 and To Dust You Will Decay in 1988) that are not only considered as classic releases within their style but still remain rare collectors items whose originals fetch a nice premium on the collectors' market. Founding members Frank Banx (Bass) and Dirk Assmuth (Drums) reformed the band in a refreshed line up consisting of the new and highly talented members Dirk Thurisch (Vocals), Bernd Aufermann (Guitars) and Frank's brother Steven Banx (Keyboards). After receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback and a constantly growing following for their return record Border Of Reality in 1998, the follow-up album Bleed in 1999 and Enlighten The Darkness in 2000 (both their best-selling and best-received album to date), the Dortmund-based quintet had achieved the reputation of being one of Europe's brightest modern Power Metal outfits. After notoriously touring Enlighten The Darkness through central Europe together with Lefay, Steel Prophet and labelmates StormHammer, Angel Dust faced what was probably the most difficult chapter in their re-united activity: Drummer Dirk decided to take some time off from the band, and at the same time axeman Bernd departed from the band's ranks due to conflicting opinions with the rest of the group about the musical and stylistical future of Angel Dust. Angel Dust added intermezzo drummer Michael Sticken as well as guitar wizard and longtime friend Ritchie Wilkison (touring guitarist for Demons & Wizards) to their line-up to perform a four-week tour in the US together with Opeth, Nevermore and God Forbid in North America in Spring of 2001. This extensive and acclaimed tour definitely managed to open a lot of new doors overseas for Angel Dust, and also led to another invitation to play a furious show at the ProgPower Festival in Atlanta in November of the same year. Of course, Angel Dust is not the band to waste any of their creative input and time without working on new material: Upon the return of Dirk Assmuth as skinsman in the Fall of 2001, Angel Dust entered their favoured Woodhouse Studio in Hagen with longterm producer Siggi Bemm (Tiamat, Therion, Farmer Boys, etc.) to nail down nine new original compositions as well as an intense and truly metallized offering of Seal's classic song "Killer" for their new album Of Human Bondage. US-Based Ritchie Wilkison had fully integrated into the songwriting process of the band and without doubts turned out to be one of the main forces for a slight turn to the more straightforward and riff-oriented vein of the new material. Angel Dust have brilliantly achieved to outweigh their own trademarks of pure Power Metal catchiness, technically appealing instrumental elements and a superb bombastic atmosphere with a more heavy, thrashing punch added to the songs as well as a very suitably dark atmosphere. Dirk Thurisch's clean, melodic timbre with ever-present hooklines still remains one of the most originally bewitching voices within their scene these days and Steven Banx's futuristic but always powerful keyboards stand out from the masses of younger melodic Metal bands that seem content to just copy the ideas once presented in the '80s by bands like Helloween and Iron Maiden. Angel Dust have always strived for a very individual sound, and Of Human Bondage is a magnificent, inspired new record that will certainly surprise the listener with a challenging addition of new-found guitar aggression and a more determined songwriting bite, without carrying the attitude of the songs too far away from the band's own roots. Beautifully packaged once again with an outstanding photographic masterpiece as front cover courtesy of Gerald Axelrod, Of Human Bondage is a fine example of modern Power Metal, executed by a band that is striving to pave their own stylistical ground instead of travelling those same old musical roads that tons of other faceless acts seem bound to. This one will leave you impressed...