When it comes to American influences in Metal, it’s far from out of the ordinary to find European acts adopting a more U.S.-friendly sound to grow musically or widen their fan base. It is a little more unusual, however, to find American bands who look to Europe for inspiration. Especially when that influence goes back thirty years.

There are always exceptions to any rule but on the whole, U.S. Death Metal acts tend to sound like U.S. Death Metal acts. They just do. However, despite hailing from the bright lights and sunshine of California, Darkness Everywhere sound more like they just emerged from Sweden’s nineties Gothenburg Melodic Death Metal scene.
Now, while the merest mention of melodeath might have many of you running for the hills, it has to be pointed out that the Oakland four-piece produce the “no clean vocals” type of melodeath. With no song on debut album To Conquer Eternal Damnation (Creator-Destructor Records) lasting much more than three minutes, there’s simply no room for it. It’s roaring and bellowing all the way, frontman/six-stringer Ben Murray letting the guitars do all the melodic heavy lifting.

Going straight for the throat, aggressive opener “Retaliation” recalls At The Gates at the height of their power, Murray’s guttural vocals lying somewhere between Dark Tranquillity‘s Mikael Stanne and Johan Hegg of Amon Amarth, the song featuring the first of many superbly performed guitar solos from axeman Cameron Stucky before culminating with a massive groove riff.

“The Architect Of Misery” features vocalist Laura Nichol from Light This City, the punishment continuing unabated with drummer Garrett Garvey and bassist Zack Ohren seemingly unsatisfied with their contributions unless entire cities have been levelled. Amon Amarth meets In Flames on the searing title track while “Cosmic Misfortune” punches with a slower groove, the muscular cut unleashing bursts of furious speed simply when it feels like it.

A brief acoustic interlude with an Arch Enemy type melody, “A Dreaded Eclipse” keeps things topical with people still reeling from the fact the world didn’t actually end (again) a few weeks ago. Drawing more inspiration from the likes of In Flames, “Starving Eyes” is another explosion of pure energy while “The Final Descent” adds some Dark Tranquillity-style melancholia to the thunderous barrage. “Into The Unknown” gallops out of the speakers, swiftly followed by the glorious whirlwind of “In Blood They Will Drown” and apocalyptic closer “The Tragedy Of Infinite Loss”. An otherwise fantastic way to end the record, it’s just a shame the song is allowed to fade out rather than finish with the apocalyptic bang it deserves.

Already showing clear development – both musically and production-wise – from their debut EP and follow-up single, To Conquer Eternal Damnation is a nineties European monster from a hugely talented 2020’s U.S. band.

Buy the album here:
https://www.creatordestructor.com

 

8 / 10
GARY ALCOCK