Review DARKNESS “Death Squad Chronicles”

The German thrash metal band Darkness is one of the groups benefiting from the current thrash metal boom. Hailing from Essen, Germany, the band was among the first to contribute to the German thrash metal movement in the ’80s. With three albums under their belt, the band received some notable attention. While Darkness couldn’t close the gap to bands like Kreator, Destruction, and Sodom, they played energetic thrash metal with a stronger underground vibe.

Driven by the energy of drummer Lacky, Darkness returned in 2010th and released an album called “The Gasoline Solution” in 2016. Their latest release, “Death Squad Chronicles,” marks the fourth album of their second era.

Darkness’s new album is a raw, unpolished thrash metal blast that connects with the heyday of the genre. “The Gates” is the pulsating intro to the album that sets the scene for “Terror for Terror.” The latter is a typical thrash metal song with great riffs, raspy vocals, and a vigorous rhythm section. “Battle of the Last” continues the spirit set by the previous song. The opening songs are fierce and reminiscent of the golden age of thrash metal.

Darkness pushes the pedal to the metal, sticking to the basic principles of thrash metal. What works for each song individually is also what makes the entire album predictable. One nice surprise, though, is the acoustic intro to “Burial at Sea,” which evolves into a grooving mid-tempo song with strong punching power.

“Victims” is frantic and fast, while “Defenders of Justice” gallops with a driving rhythm. With “Predetermined Destiny,” Darkness shows that they have more in their toolkit than just pushing the pedal. This seven-minute thrash metal song shows that the band has more than just blazing speed. The moderately paced middle section combined with the fast-paced framework demonstrates a high level of versatility. Additionally, some more traditional heavy metal elements are present.

“Death Squad Chronicles” is a snappy thrash metal album from a band that has revitalized the musical aesthetic they pioneered in the ’80s. Darkness put a lot of passion and dedication into this album, which resonates in each song. “Death Squad Chronicles” is a resounding release and a treat for headbangers.