DARKNESS
DARKNESS “Blood On Canvas”
By Dr. Abner Mality
No German thrash band ever dies. They live on and on, like ancient viruses that remain frozen in permafrost. ASSASSIN, ANGEL DUST, TANKARD, PARADOX...they keep going. So it is with DARKNESS from Essen, home town of SODOM. They’ve been part of Kraut-thrash’s second tier since 1986.
“Blood On Canvas” shows they haven’t mellowed out any. Although the 80’s stuff has an indefinable grittiness that can’t be duplicated, DARKNESS have stuck to their gameplan of meat and potatoes thrash metal here. They are smart enough to know they don’t have to evolve. Nevertheless, the record doesn’t reach that next level necessary to create a classic. It’s a workmanlike mix of SODOM and EXODUS, with some fierce speed but even more mid-paced chug.
The record does get better as it goes along. First couple of songs are resolutely average, but around “This And My Heart Beside”, things start to pick up. The fast parts are faster, the riffs become a bit more memorable and in general, the songs are just plain better. From “Truth Is A Whore” to the final epic of the title track, the album hits its stride and the tunes start to pop. It also helps that the production fits the songs...clear yet rough.
No matter how long they are around, I don’t think DARKNESS will ever make the jump to the level of SODOM and KREATOR. But I think they are OK with that and they seem content with this basic assault. I should be seeing them live in a couple of months and I look forward to it.