Band:	Anger
Album:	The Bliss
Style:	Hardcore, Nu metal
Release date:	2003
Guest review by:	Passenger

01. Feel My Anger
02. Another Game
03. Iced
04. Devil in My Mind
05. Say (What You Wanna)
06. Instants
07. Upside Down
08. Innersight
09. Xenemy
10. God in Me
11. Gonna Drown
12. Lost Soul

Portuguese finest Nu Metal act is back with their third album, the successor for 1999's "Y2K".
Anger reach in "The Bliss" a new and higher level of quality and, in a clear bigger concern with the details, improved into a much more interesting sonority then before.

More melodic and with the inclusion of electronic sound (the band even got a new member in charge of the samples and keyboards, Luís Silva), this work doesn't dispense the characteristic enraged but fickle vocals or the fast and well conceived riffs we can hear in their past works.

In this more intense direction we are served with great songs such as "Feel My Anger", "God In Me", "Xenemy" (this one sounds a lot like Coal Chamber for example, specially in the vocals) or the electrifying "Say (What You Wanna)", which has a great intro and the initial riff is one of the best I've ever heard in this style. It was also chosen as the first single.

In a more harmonic approach, but still very powerful, "Iced", which has a great intro riff and chorus, "Instants" or "Upside Down" are the reflex of that evolution, well worked and polished. It all ends with "Lost Soul", which is the only song I don't like on the album, for it's just slow electronic beats. Still it's a nice way of ending.

The lyrics are nothing special, but are very straight, don't give space for alternative interpretations, are very catchy and totally fit every song.

"The Bliss" is a strong and very cohesive effort and it's excellent on how it includes practically everything Nu Metal has proposed to offer, so, it will definitely please anyone who is inclined to hear it. No matter which part you like more about this style, you will like lots of songs from here.

In a year (2003) on which the lack of big references in the style lead some to try to declare the style as close to extinction, it's very good to see bands growing and improving, making good works, spreading expectations and deserving so positive notes.

Favourite songs: "Iced", "Say (What You Wanna)", "God In Me"