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Asrai - Touch in the Dark - CD review
By Wa -- Conner   
Not "rated" by the Author.
Last edited: Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Posted: Wednesday, November 17, 2004

The Asrai are small, fragile, female beings who polymorph into puddle of water when they are captured or exposed to sunlight...

ASRAI - Touch in the Dark

Transmission Records/The End Records

by Wa

The Asrai are small, fragile, female beings who polymorph into puddle of water when they are captured or exposed to sunlight. It is this frail nature of life that forms the backbone in all of the songs of ASRAI, a disarmingly honest blend of prog rock, new wave and gothic metal.

ASRAI is a band who has paid more than their share of dues to the music community and it seems their dedication and devotion have paid off. After nearly twenty years of adversity, countless gigs, and a revolving cast of band members, they’ve finally released their second full length album Touch in the Dark.

The album begins with what appears to be an epic conversation between vocalist Margariet Mol and God himself. "All my questions are asking why?" she says. He responds "I don’t mind you asking questions, for all and more is yours to know." It is a spine tingling moment.

Margriet Mol’s voice, accompanied by sister Karin Mol on drums, Manon Van Der Hidde on synth, Martin Kooy on bass, and Rik Janssen on guitar, is a powerful combination of Ann Wilson and Joan Jett that seethes with emotional resonance when she explores complex dilemmas such as coping with self-mortality in "Pale Light"; or hope in the face of adversity in "Touch in the Dark". Their music is a nice touch of poignance in a theatric world, that is free of arrogance and conceit.

Kind of like: Call Me Alice, After Forever, Evanescence and Dream Theater

Asrai official site: http://asrai2.homestead.com/

The End Records: http://label.theendrecords.com/

Transmission Records: http://www.transmissionrecords.com/