Searching for the Light

Apparently when this came out some magazines called this a "thrash opera" because of the concept lyrics, which would continue in as concept trilogy with 'Musical Guide From Stellium' and 'Alea Jacta Est.' Interesting too was that Dorsal was initially signed by the American label Wild Rags Records—for this release only—and according to the band the label didn't promote this enough as they would've wished. But this doesn't sound all too far off from Brazilians not promoting some Brazilian outputs outside of their country. I can imagine it being frustrating being in a band in this country with only a limited number of labels at that point and the beginning of the 'pay-to-play' feature that would hinder performing live.

Searching for the Light is a mix of metal assortments. Their influences of the past, mixing a type of thrash-crossover aren't even noticed here, with thrash influences completely peeling away from their previous counterpart. They are primarily at a mid-paced structure. While treading down to more tamer, slower beats, but overall there are quite a number of mid-thrashy moments.

They opted for an atmospheric side that is heavy in production to achieve this. Reverb is sprayed over each instrument, like a wizened worker spraying stucco onto walls, but wanting to make the machine do the work instead of manually laboring and having to do it all by hand. This in turn makes each instrument have a hazy sound, like they are coming through an open time/space rip that is linked to a past, but breaching through just enough to be present and tangible.

The music, at points, is unorthodoxly played. The last album upped the level of their playing skills and they showed some past influences that would mix with a new progressive spin. Carlos's vocals went from deep and gruff to, here, held back and almost whispered, speedy gasps, with a really 'essssy' letter S sound. Sometimes using a constipated motif, that sounds like he is using a purposeful inhaling strain to accent a few vocal lines. This is also the first full length release that he would fully vocalize in English on. Which, my guess would be that that might of had a leaning on why he drastically altered his vocal style, and why they aren't as pronounced as before. The signature bass lines Dorsal displayed before are an important function to Searching for the Light as well. Showing varying parting and departing bass notes, with a strummed and chord-laden approach as well. They don't always play with the speed of the guitars, but at times can be heard in a slower strum, even when the overall music is at a faster pace. The guitar lines are mostly set up with a simplistic purpose, while interfusing some slower, more complex and unorthodoxly played sections that will use off-time strummed chords and note-like spasms. With all of that said, I think aspects of the song writing is off at times on this release. For instance, the drums sound a little bit bland and sound like they are merely following the guitars—which is the main carrier—like they are being pulled at opposite ends of a tug of war, instead of being on the same team, on the same side.

The problem I had with Dorsal on their debut full length is that they were too bare-bones and simplistic. Dividir & Conquistar showed a second album that would take the best moments of the first and mix enough variations to make a memorably great album. Now, Searching For the Light I think was going for a distancing from those outputs by making a more subtley atmospheric recording. It has an evenly mixed, hazy, but fitting production. With some unorthodoxly played moments and some great bass lines. But the music at moments plods and then comes back to life, plods and comes back to life. The vocals switching to speedy gasps and whispers might of had something to do with it, and aren't as much a major carrier of the music. Also the drum patterns are a little lost when the guitar and bass lines are more intricate. But are right there when doing the overall simplistic sections. Searching for the Light isn't as thrilling to listen to as Dividir & Conquistar and farther away to even a close style compared to Antes do Fim. Comparing all three together, for me, it comes in somewhere in between both releases and is the last thread of Dorsal that I can frequently listen to.