‘Lady of shadows, sanctify my mind, listen to these broken cries, bless my sword and let me wield it right’.
Next year, Darkest Hour will celebrate thirty years in the music business, no mean feat I’d say, with the revolving door scenario the industry has become. Today I bring you their tenth album. ‘Perpetual/ Terminal’ it is a collection of songs that addresses the concept that everything in this life will have its end at some point, yet within this framework we purposely end things in order to survive. It is death amplified, and rebirth rejoiced, a continuous cycle of events and happenings that form our lives. What we no longer need is discarded, and we determine a new path from the now unoccupied space.
Opening this album is the title track and it is the perfect amalgamation of heavy, melodic, a chorus to die for and screams to tear off your ears. It is this arrangement that carries the album, each song brought to life, urging you to rise from the depths of death, arise and live again with our friends here.
I do love ‘A Prayer For The Holy Death’ a musical bonding of epic proportions, it is a supplication to Nuestra Señora de la Santa Muerte, Our Lady of the Holy Death, protector and provider of safe passage and prosperity.
Darkest Hour are John Henry – vocals, Aaron Deal – bass, Travis Orbin – drums, Nico Santora and Mike Schleibaum on guitar, they have sculpted a monolith amongst a scene that is burgeoning with talent yet shines a light on the chosen few. At 3.20 on ‘One With The Void’ you get the as I lay me down to sleep vibes, chillingly prepossessing, a graceful detachment ensues.
There is a temporary lull in the proceedings courtesy of the scintillating ‘Amor Fati’ an all-round nurturing sensory experience, indicative of the respite that is necessary while confronting all that is painful and distressing.
The whole album is technically proficient, compositions touching all bases, there is a respect and a responsibility to all genres that is captured without fear or favour. Darkest Hour are on a journey, they are accepting, they are the distant siren that will lead you to safety. Sit with this album in your hour of darkness, feel your emotions erupt volcanically, let them fly freely, let them settle in your vacant soul, it is a record that inspires credence and vitality. When all that you see is pain, perpetual and terminal, you wake from your comatose state at the very moment you realise that everything you’ve ever known is a lie, it spears your heart.
Lightning speedster ‘My Only Regret’ is a rage filled bruiser, taking just 2.11 minutes to push the ‘Goddess Of War’ over the finish line. From gentle beginnings we go from commiseration to celebration, a cyclical eventuality we beseech, winter sun, winter moon, any death now, will be a death too soon.
Azra Pathan
Darkest Hour – Perpetual/ Terminal out 23rd February 2024