Artist - Darkest Hour
Album - Undoing Ruin
Label - Victory Records
Reviewer - Dan Hoyt
The breakout point has finally arrived for Darkest Hour. The metal quintet from Washington D.C. show off a diverse and powerful sound on their new album Undoing Ruin that showcases elements and influences from other popular metal bands and twists them into a raw yet melodic masterpiece.
Consisting of Paul Burnette on bass, Ryan Parrish on drums, John Henry on the mic, and Kris Norris and Mike Schleibaum on guitars, this seven-year veteran band in the hardcore and heavy metal circuit come back with a fury following 2003’s Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation, an album that got them on the 2004 Ozzfest with Lamb of God and Slipknot. Undoing Ruin is explosive and melodic at the same time; ear-shattering and yet harmonious.
Right from the first track, “With a Thousand Words to say But One,” Darkest Hour build up into a punishing thrash beat accompanied by Henry’s rough, raging vocals. “Convalescence” is somewhat of a slower song that even features Henry’s singing voice (a rare occurrence on the album). It also features the first guitar solo of the album that’s short but fits with the heavy riffing going on most of the time.
But I tossed that all out the window as soon as I flipped to the next track, “This Will Outlive Us”. It’s SLAYER! Well, not really, but this song is goddamned wild. It starts with another speedy thrash beat and a shredding guitar solo that sounds like something you’d hear off of Reign in Blood or South of Heaven. This song features the best drum work on the album by far, in my opinion anyway. Also, I really like the riff at about 1:09 into the song. Catchy and Children of Bodom-esque. In fact, with Henry’s harsh vocals, the entire song sounds pretty much like Slayer meets Bodom, and that ain’t a bad thing.
Songs like “Sound the Surrender” and “Low” continue the endless thrash drumming and riffing. “Low” also features more great drumming that accompanies the vocals a little better than the guitars. What’s interesting about these two songs however is that they’re broken up by two melodic instrumentals, “Pathos” and “Ethos”. “Pathos” is by far more interesting, as an all-acoustic track serving as a slight interlude and a midway point to the album. Simmer down now, you’re about to get your ass audio-kicked a second time.
I like the riffing on “District Divided”, especially since the guitars seem to lay off slightly about halfway through the album, and on this song they come back with an attitude. “These Fevered Times” is another thrash-freak song that lays off the heavy bass and comes hard with drums and vocals. “Paradise” is slower and has some more cool drum work mixed with great riffs. The twin-guitar attack really works for this band, and it all comes together well in the closer, “Tranquil”. Another Bodom-esque riff that I really liked and a massive ending that stretches the song out to past six minutes, bringing this train to a stop in style.
Henry’s lyrics are standard hardcore fare, poetry that has no rhyme and rages about politics and journeys in today’s society. He remains consistent throughout the album, however, and his screeching is far more tolerable than a huge chunk of harsh vocalists out there today. The drumming from Parrish is the standout of the album, as he lays down slower, more restrained beats on some songs and lets loose with Slayer-ized thrash on others. Burnette’s bass is hard to hear at times but it doesn’t hurt the overall blending and sound quality of the band, and the guitar assault from Norris and Schleibaum is a very nice complement as they create some very enjoyable riffs and bust out the occasional shredding solo.
Undoing Ruin is a solid album to listen to start-to-finish and one of the top albums I’ve listened to this year. Expect many great things from Darkest Hour in 2005 and years to come, because this just might be their push into the limelight.
For more information on Darkest Hour, check out their website at www.darkesthour.cc.
Tracklist
1. With a Thousand Words to Say But One
2. Convalescence
3. This Will Outlive Us
4. Sound the Surrender
5. Pathos
6. Low
7. Ethos
8. District Divided
9. These Fevered Times
10. Paradise
11. Tranquil
