Band:	Nuclear Blast Allstars
Album:	Out Of The Dark - 20 Years Nuclear Blast
Style:	Melodic death metal, Power metal
Release date:	September 21, 2007
A review by:	Baz Anderson

Disc I
01. Dysfunctional Hours [feat. Anders Friden - In Flames]
02. Schizo [feat. Peter Tägtgren - Hypocrisy]
03. Devotion [feat. Jari Mäenpäa - Wintersun]
04. The Overshadowing [feat. Christian Älvestam - Scar Symmetry]
05. Paper Trail [feat. John Bush - ex-Anthrax]
06. The Dawn Of All [feat. Bjorn "Speed" Strid - Soilwork]
07. Cold Is My Vengeance [feat. Maurizio Iacono - Kataklysm]
08. My Name Is Fate [feat. Mark Osegueda - Death Angel]
09. The Gilded Dagger [feat. Richard Sjunnesson & Roland Johansson - Sonic Syndicate]
10. Closer To The Edge [feat. Guillaume Bideau - Mnemic]

Disc II
01. The Heretic Hammer [Dimmu Borgir]
02. Tyrants [Immortal]
03. As He Creates, So He Destroys [Nile]
04. Purge The World [Exodus]
05. Ghost [Anthrax]
06. Futile Breed Machine [Meshuggah]
07. Kingdome Of Heartache [Chimaira]
08. Prisoner Of War [All Shall Perish]
09. All Is Not Forgotten [Agnostic Front]
10. Counterbalance [Threat Signal]

Nuclear Blast, one of the biggest labels in metal around right now, and this is the year that the label started in Donzdorf, Germany all that time ago turns twenty. Celebrating this milestone in metal history we have two "all-star" albums featuring the singers of many of the Nuclear Blast bands. "Into The Light" released the first half of the year showcased the more melodic side to the label with appearances from singers from bands such as Sonata Arctica, Blind Guardian, Helloween and Nightwish - however "Out Of The Dark" is the yin to the yang. This album features the more extreme acts of the Nuclear Blast label, revolving more around the melodic death metal genre. Here we have singers from such bands as In Flames, Wintersun, Soilwork and Kataklysm putting their vocal talents to the music written and performed almost exclusively by Peter Wichers.

Twenty years is a long time, and they have given us plenty of classic albums over the years, there would be no reason to assume that they would release something unsatisfactory for this occasion. Well the truth is, if you love modern melodic death metal from the bands of Nuclear Blast then this album will amuse and entertain you for its duration. The album is full of catchy guitar hooks, extreme vocals crossed with melodic vocals and of course the odd flurry of double bass drumming that would easily catch the ear of a keen listener of the genre. "Devotion" featuring Jari Mäenpäa of Wintersun breaks a little from the mould as it is the most extreme track of the album with its furious drumming and great vocals, but still sticking firmly under the melodic death label and "The Overshadowing" is a great showing of the melodic vocals contrasting with the extreme music with Christian Älvestam from Scar Symmetry overbearing with his trademark clean as a whistle vocals. Sure, this is turning out to be a great listen.

Unfortunately one cannot help but wonder why they had to celebrate their twentieth birthday in this way. The music is not performed by a band that has a tight bond like most of the real bands out there and so maybe you could say the album lacks a bit of real soul to it, there are not so many meanings in the lyrics as the lyrics of these musicians respective bands. Also maybe because all the music is written by one man or because of the actual nature of the album and fitting all the different styles of the vocalists - the album never boasts anything spectacular comparing again with the respective bands this album has guests from. Most In Flames songs are better than the song here featuring Anders Friden, and most Soilwork songs are better than the song featuring Bjorn "Speed" Strid if you see what I mean.

Still, twenty years of Nuclear Blast, twenty years of great music so you cannot complain about this party style album. The novelty and unique selling point of this album is of course the inclusion of the eleven musicians from different bands that keep you wondering exactly what the next track will sound like. Putting it simply, if you love modern melodic death metal and feel like listening to something a little lighter in a meaningful sense - i.e. an album that does not command your constant attention, then this album could be worth considering - of course also to show your respect to the mighty Nuclear Blast.