As we hit the end of the summer, I was able to get my hands on the latest album from Black Tongue entitled The Unconquerable Dark (Century Media). Being on quite a doom kick this year, hearing about Black Tongue being considered “doomcore” I had some higher than typical expectations going in. I feel the album as a whole is a solid release, but I think I was let down a little thinking it would sound more like doom than hardcore/deathcore. Sure we get the slow tempo through most of the album aside from a few passages in a few tracks but those are greatly outnumbered by the endless amounts of breakdowns. There were some tracks that did stick out to me though on this release.

The first track, ‘Plague Worship’, is one of the better tracks on the album as it has an evil opening and really sets the bar for what to expect on The Unconquerable Dark. The extremely low tuned guitars and the thunderous drums keeping everything together is sure to kick you right in the face from the start. Eddie Hermida (Suicide Silence/ex-All Shall Perish) adds guest vocals on ‘Vermintide’ and it is pretty obvious for those who know Eddie. Especially when it comes to Black Tongue pushing nothing but disgusting, gutturals and then he jumps in with his high pitched screeches. And for those who like longer tracks to lose yourself in, this one comes in at just over six and a half minutes, longest on the record.

I did have some gripes with The Unconquerable Dark with it not really meeting what I was expecting. However, I do have to say I thought this release, while expecting deathcore, is certainly better than the rest that comes out today in that genre. At the end of the day, I may not listen to this as often as other releases from other artists this year, but if I have “one of those days” then Black Tongue may just get a spin on the ride home.

5.5/10

TIM LEDIN