| CD REVIEW Darkest Era |
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Band: Darkest Era Darkest Era hail from Northern Ireland (more specific: the Belfast region) and the heterogenic band (both male and female human beings are part of it) was formed in 2005 with the moniker Nemesis. Soon, however, they decided to change their name to avoid confusion and juridical bullshit. The early years were characterised by influences from (Traditional) Heavy Metal with Folk elements, especially taken from the Irish folklore. Shortly afterwards, the band evolved into a heavier one, including elements from Doom and Pagan Metal. In 2008, a first official recording got released (The Journey Through Damnation, MCD, Eyes Like Snow Records) and last year saw the self-release of the The Oak Sessions EP. After signing to Metal Blade, the band now releases its debut full length, The Last Caress Of Light, which lasts for almost one hour. The Last Caress Of Light was recorded at the Welch Foel Studio with producer Chris Fielding (think: more extreme combos like Napalm Death, Moss, Ageless Oblivion, Electric Wizard, Dyscarnate amongst others). The album goes on in the vein of last year’s EP The Oak Sessions. As a matter of fact, two tracks from those sessions have been re-recorded for this full album. Still the band combines somewhat Celtic-inspired Pagan / Folk Metal with (NWOB) Heavy Metal elements. The Pagan approach sounds rather epic and sturdy, coming with a pounding drive and a pushing energy. Some riffs remind me to a symbiosis of Bathory (Hammerheart-era) and Primordial, but another band that comes to mind are Waylander; evidently this certainly has to do with the fact that guitar player Ade Mulgrew used to play in this band before. The Heavy Metal elements still are comparable to, for example, Iron Maiden, Warlord and Saxon, but these influences did decrease a lot. In the past one did mention the influence of Thin Lizzy as well, yet this influence did lower enormously too this time. The compositions haven’t been composed with a progressive undertone, which explains the nineties-atmosphere, and except for the decent, modern sound (Foel Studio, you see…), the whole must be described as ‘traditional’, yet not of the primitive kind. The main tempo isn’t that fast at all, but the more up-tempo parts are stunningly energetic. About some riffs: easily, these ones could have been written by a Black Metal artist, and along with the dark yet honest sound, it defines the icy atmosphere. The Last Caress Of Light isn’t just a splendid debut; at the same time it must be one of the strongest and most convincing Pagan / Heavy albums in quite a long time. Highly recommendable! 84/100 Ivan Tibos. |