Dawn Ray’d – To Know The Light
Release Date: 24th March 2023
Label: Prosthetics Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Black Metal, Folk Metal.
FFO: Spectral Wound, Krallice, Ancst, Yellow Eyes.
Review By: Rick Farley
Openly anarchist and anti-fascist U.K. black metal band Dawn Ray’d burst onto the scene in 2017 with their debut full length The Unlawful Assembly. Combining blazing black metal, with elements of mournful folk and politically charged content, the trio quickly became a fierce entry into the world of bleak darkness. Both the debut and album number two, Behold Sedition Plainsong, are fitting examples of a buzzing band well worth their hype. Now 2023 brings us album number three To know the Light. Does it hold up to the first two records?
Well sort of. First, let’s get a few negatives out of the way. Obviously if you’re not a fan of politics, aesthetically this band may not be for you. Dawn Ray’d are not shy about their beliefs and don’t seem to give two fucks whether you agree with them or not, which is perfectly fine. However, in the world we currently live in, no side of the coin is actually worth a damn and I find it to be a detriment to completely alienate a particular fanbase. With that said, I absolutely love the first two albums regardless. The second negative is this album feels disjointed, under the guise of disregarding preconceptions of the genre, it doesn’t feel authentic in some regards. From one extreme to the other, furious blackness one song to a complete folk shanty right after. It’s an odd transition, that may or may not win the audience over. Don’t get me wrong, there’s some brilliant music on To know the Light, but there’s also filler here that just seems like an afterthought and the cries of hipster black metal are already ringing out. Lastly, the production is off. The distorted guitar tone is too bright and jagged, with slight variation in sound. When it’s at its most furious of riffs with melodies overtop, it is very abrasive in a grating way. The low end is completely missing, making it sound too thin, and the drums occasionally get lost in the mix.
The positives, and there are several, even though it may not sound that way. When Dawn Ray’d are hitting on all cylinders, they sound like they could hang with the best of the best. Ancient Light is a stunning example that utilizes all their strengths with potent artistry. The riffs snake their way into a groove that’s as entrancing as it’s venomous. They have an amazing knack of combining melancholy with ferocity. The heavy use of violins enrich the atmospherics of the sombre passages, and when mixed against the walls of distortion it sounds of nightmares. Sepulchre (Don’t Vote) is a spirited, punky black metal track full of fury that’s only intent is to destroy pits. Cruel Optimisms is a mournful mix of acoustics and a dejected violin melody that’s both beautiful and soul crushing. Its use of spoken word adds textural depth. There is a short explosion of grindy guitars at the end that I wish were longer than just a few seconds. Freedom in Retrograde may divide fans. On its own, and a little out of place, It’s a catchy folk song that will absolutely get your feet moving. A hooky clean vocal melody along with acoustics, piano, violin, and a beat that has a stompy vibe is bound to be an earworm.
Overall, because of the bands previous works, it’s harder for me to see this as an upgrade. The change in sound is not so radical that it will completely throw people off, but it’s enough to make fans such as myself wonder why this particular direction is seen as reinvigorated sound. It’s surely not a reinvention of black metal, but it is still worth a listen from the open-minded. 
(3 / 5)
