FEAR OF DARKNESS - PHOBIA FEAR OF DARKNESS

'When you're growing up in a small town..you say 'no-one famous ever came from here.' There's only one good thing about a small town..you know you want to get out...you hate it and you'll have to leave.'Lou Reed and John Cale (Songs for Drella).

Living in the satellite town of Yate, a few miles from Bristol, was the equivalent to the Warhol situation for the members of the young indie/Goth band, Fear of Darkness. If you didn't get out, the options for your future life were limited, personally and professionally. It was the proverbial dead end street, a wasteland in terms of fulfilling any potential you had.

This small town back-drop gave Fear of Darkness the motivation and opportunity to make their bid for freedom and expression. The first attempt was with initial singer Dave Mac where the band attempted a fusion of The Alarm and The Clash, all rebel rousing punk attitude cries of despair and rage against the climate of the times in the mid 1980's. Songs from this period can be heard on The Virgin Land album that was released on Bristol Archive Records.

Phase two saw the introduction of Rich Hulands and a shift towards a darker, more Goth tuned approach. It was supplemented by the addition of Angela Huggins to their ranks providing a gender and textual counter point to Huland's edgier vibe. This preceded the similar vocal contrasts used in the mid 1990's by Leeds gloomsters, Sisters of Mercy after Hussey's period spent in the band.

The newly released 'Phobia' album contains eleven songs recorded from 1986 to 1988. A first statement of intent with this new direction is in the opening track 'Lay Me Down'. This was originally released as a single in 1987. The song is a straight into the heart and ears classic, with sonic twisting and turning leading to an epic but economical Darby guitar solo. The track exits in bright, heads-up blaze of positivity.

'She Said' has guitar pyrotechnics blasting out great shards of sound before the band show the heavier dimension to their palette. There was always a brave battle to add further ingredients into a genre that had many adherents in this time period. Fear of Darkness sometimes succeeded and sometimes fell short. But that didn't stop them trying again.

A potential lost anthem follows later in the tale that is 'True'. It could be a story of the make me special modern age where everyone struggles with how they feel and how they are, either about themselves or someone they care about. This version of Fear of Darkness could be tough or tender, both in terms of content and conclusions. Rise above any phobia as not for love nor money should you pass on enjoying this album.