Eternal Frost (web)zine (usa) :

A.N.A.E.L. "Page 04"

independent (2002)

This promotional CDR contains A.N.A.E.L.'s entire second cryptically-titled demo, Page 04 (a total of four songs, including an interesting BURZUM cover) and tracks from the band's debut demo, Union. A.N.A.E.L. is a one-man band (in the studio, at least) playing a mid-tempo mixture of industrial, death metal and gothic. The music mainly stays in the metal realm, aside from the occasional piano and softer sections; it's the vocals that vary the most, from harsher, almost-death metal growls (somewhat akin to Burton C. Bell) to spoken word to clean gothic singing. The last vocal approach brings to mind INXS or DEPECHE MODE, of all bands. So, obviously, that's not to my personal taste. But the mechanised metal music itself is quite well-performed and always catchy. If A.N.A.E.L. would shed the gothic side and focus more of the heavier/extreme style, this could really be a band to watch in the future. For now, though, it's a toss-up.