Band:	Die Apokalyptischen Reiter
Album:	Licht
Style:	Heavy metal
Release date:	August 2008

Disc I [CD]
01. Es Wird Schlimmer
02. Auf Die Liebe
03. Wir Sind Das Licht
04. Nach Der Ebbe
05. Adrenalin
06. Der Elende
07. Heut' Ist Der Tag
08. Wir Hoffen
09. Der Weg
10. Ein Lichtlein
11. Auferstehen Soll In Herrlichkeit

Disc II [DVD] [Digipack bonus]
+ Der Weg [Video]
+ Making Of The "Der Weg"
+ Monsterball - Das Reiter Game

These riders of the storm have always been quite a strictly German affair, but over the past few years Die Apokalyptischen Reiter have broadened their horizons and now have interest from more than just one centralised area or Europe. After a massively successful previous album "Riders On The Storm" and hugely entertaining festival shows around Germany it would seem the perfect time to capitalise on the newfound popularity the band have managed to draw.

Unfortunately "Licht" does not do this. Die Apokalyptischen Reiter have never had so many eyes on them at one time before and so a career-defining album at this moment in time would have boosted the band immensely. "Licht" is disappointingly average from a band that over the past six albums has provided original, interesting and far from mediocre music. The album is the first with new guitarist Lady Cat-Man, who has stepped in, in place of Pitrone who took his leave after being involved with the band since 2002. Line-up changes never seem to be a good thing, and here is no exception. All spark and innovative song writing has been seemingly sucked out of the band when comparing to only two years ago.

Die Apokalyptischen Reiter are a professional band and always have been, Fuchs is one of the most charismatic vocalists in metal at the moment and is very capable in his abilities as well as having the diversity to perform both clean and harder vocals well. This album is still no exception as far as Fuchs is concerned, and the album still does have some catchy songs such as the opener "Es Wird Schlimmer" and "Heut' Ist Der Tag", but something is missing on "Licht".

These riders used to wow us all with their magically bombastic songs such as "Seemann", or hook us with their sheer catchiness with songs like "Die Sonne Scheint", but "Licht" is devoid of any song that dares to stand out in the crowd. The album has pretty much no folk side to it, and this absence is not made up with harder hitting, faster paced songs either. The album constantly rides in the middle, not daring to try out something potentially spectacular as the band's previous works all have.

"Licht" is not a bad album, but over the years the band have constantly put out top quality albums that pushed the boundaries of what they, themselves were doing. We have come to expect only the top quality from this band, and so even though this album is not a bad one, it still falls way underneath the expectations anyone could have had to follow up and capitalise on their newfound attention from fans. Nothing sticks out, there are no real highlights, and so overall the album is unfortunately easily forgettable. Still, Lady Cat-Man has not been in the band a year yet and so next time they might have formed some kind of chemistry. The only way to find out is to wait and see!