the Mission - The Brightest Light

“Sometimes the brightest light comes from the darkest place.”
That sums up this album very well.

Well obviously the extremely gravelly voice is somewhat puzzling at first sight, and for a minute I thought it was another singer. But, when you take this step, it’s a series of dark little gems that open up to you!

Starting with "Black Cat Bone", masterful crescendo, perfect percussions. Then "Everything But the Squeal" goes on with an upbeat rock tempo. "Ain't No Prayer in the Bible Can Save Me Now" and-close-the-door-at-the-end, is for me the cornerstone of the disc, captivating, fascinating, impeccable arrangements, I totally concur. More classic in the Mission’s repertoire, "Swan Song" is nonetheless remarkable for its slow step up until the epic finale that involves you willingly or not.
In the course of the album, the guitars yell, flap, squeak wonderfully, the voice asserts itself, the lyrics hit the nail on the head, until this exercise in style "Litany for the Faithful" becomes an ideal ode to conclude.

Finally, with this Brightest light, Wayne Hussey’s gang proves a path for dark rock music still exists, proposes real new pieces avoiding the self-plagiarism trap, which hasn’t always been the case (let’s recall the very little inspired Aura). Obviously, this album won’t touch a wide audience, nor will it please – let’s bet – the older fans. For we are here much closer to a Blue than a Gods Own Medicine... which I’m quite happy about.

In short, highly recommended to fans of good music off the beaten track, this album inhabited by the brightest light comes from the darkest place indeed.