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ABSOLUTE DARKNESS
Disaster Awaits

Self-released (2018)
Rating: 7/10

Disaster Awaits is the second album from San Francisco death-thrashers Absolute Darkness, a heavy trio who I was introduced to two years ago via their 2016 debut Future Imperfect. So I was rather looking forward to this new outing, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Although these guys claim to be influenced by the 80s Bay Area thrash scene, the sound on offer here is far denser, murkier and certainly heavier, with a stronger lean towards a melodic death metal style, particularly with the chesty vocal sneers of drummer Ron Dorn.

With this nine track affair we find ourselves immersed in a catchy but scowling platter, beefed up by menacing riffage and grumbling bass lines which when fused together make for a rather formidable wall of sound. The thrashier elements rarely sound influenced by 80s chugging thrash. Instead, there’s a mournful play on tracks like ‘Blood In The Snow’, which has sorrowful strains with its ashen chords, while the pace picks up with the mighty tumble of ‘Chaos Unleashed’, a rank and greying slab of menace built upon Dorn’s bellows.

If anything, Absolute Darkness conjure up a mid-90s death metal feel, only with less polish – imagine a more sluggish Amon Amarth – and this works to their benefit. The album rumbles along in a no frills fashion, but with enough going on to keep the listener immersed. In fact, the only time my attention wanes is with the more melodic ‘Battle Won Or Lost’, an all too Amon Amarth-styled Euro rush that hints all too much towards snowy Nordic wastes. So I’m thankful then for the likes of the title track; a depressive chug of phlegm-ridden growls and thickened guitars.

The whole package feels like a strong, muscular beast which only occasionally allows itself time for a few melodic respites before galloping off into the night like some well-oiled machine.

‘Resist’ is a manly chug whereby the riffs run dark and deep, with the drums providing a sweaty punch as the bass bellows. ‘Nothing’ follows suit and again provides a juddering plod as Dorn scowls “All this bullshit makes me sick” – the combo clearly pissed off with the world and expressing by way of such scornful percussion and those gloom-drenched riffs.

However, the trio save the best song for last with the monstrous weight of ‘Mutual Destruction’, which begins with such suspense as Dorn burps “Death is all around”. And as the track quickens we’re force-fed images of corpses littering the streets, charred remains, burned out houses and mushroom clouds. It’s all very atmospheric – a rumbling, simmering, doom-laden and ash-caked slab of deathly metal of hammering pistons, churning cogs and rolling percussion. Good, grumbling stuff guys.

Neil Arnold

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