There is a famous saying that theorizes that most bands have their entire life to write their first album. Whatever pulls together a group of musicians with similar influences and compels them to create new music, is often easy to pinpoint. Usually it is the love and appreciation of a genre or a group of beloved similar bands that form the germ of a notion that guides the birthing process of art. While some opt for more approachable fare, others are seeking a path towards something, likely and answer to a question within themselves. Darkentries is one such band whose post-metal, and sludge influences are clearly discernible on the surface, but peeling away the layers reveals the quality of a group with a unique language of their own.
The Make Believe (Retro Futurist) opens with a sleepily plucked guitar, quite harmless and unassuming. ‘TV Fuzz’ has an odd quality of dread in it, before it even really starts. Some delay effects and fingers sliding across strings pull you in for a closer examination, before knocking your block off with a bomb blast of heaviness. Clashing, dirge-like chords and pounding beats crush, while Hampton Dodd’s harsh vocals swarm your ears. It’s nice to see a young band with an unshakeable patience of masters. Like a mantra, repeating riffs and laconic rhythms make a statement to introduce you to Darkentries, and what a statement it is.
‘Honey Eater’ takes the direct approach with angular, grinding riff that just blasts. Heavy sounds in the finest tradition of Neurosis, Converge Rwake and Hull hammer home their pain, clearly coming from a despondent place. ‘I’m Tired of Being Awake’ changes things up considerably, with a more insistent tempo and some frosty blastbeats. There are even some occasional goth touches and a mini- drum solo in there too. A discordant artful chime is heard in some of the guitar work, crafting a cloud of noise that adds to the track. ‘1200-S’ has a horror movie quality about it, with the terror just lurking around the corner, the horrifying swell of evil about to take you out. ‘Feedback Funeral’ is the aptly titled closer. Building into a maelstrom of riffage, this song is a doom and sludge masterpiece that has its roots in the swamps and woods of their South Carolina home.
9/10
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Keith (Keefy) Chachkes
