DARKNESS
The Gasoline Solution
High Roller (2016)
Rating: 9/10
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Here’s a blast from the past; Germany’s Darkness, who created a trio of killer thrash compositions back in the late 80s. It’s certainly been a while, the combo reuniting in 2004 under the moniker Eure Erben. On the back of 2015’s XXIX EP though, The Gasoline Solution has seen the return of Darkness, and what a way to come back.
Alongside Hobbs’ Angel Of Death’s latest opus (Heaven Bled), Darkness’ The Gasoline Solution has to be one of the finest thrash metal records I’ve heard in a very long time. This has surprised me considering that the only original members are guitarist Arnd and drummer Lacky, the pair are accompanied by vocalist Lee – the newest member – bassist Dirk and guitarist Meik.
The Gasoline Solution offers up nine, to the point minor thrash classics which sound as if they were recorded in the 1980s. Although less spiteful than the late Oliver Fernickel’s original rasp, Lee does a fine job of bolstering the latest Darkness thrash assault and it’s one that has left me agog. This is pure thrash metal heaven, if you like real, sincere aggressive thrash.
For me, Darkness never got the credit they deserved – maybe left wallowing in the shadows of fellow countrymen Sodom, Kreator and Destruction – but now is their time to shine with a record so meaty and vigorous that I may not need play anything else all year. From the off, with ‘Tinkerbell Must Die’ we’re treated to a deadly Teutonic attack of the highest order; deadly riffs are abound and are littered with classy solos while the drums rage harder than a waterfall of blood. Couple this with that mayhemic bass sound and Lee’s snarls, and we have a minor thrash classic on our hands – yep, it’s that good.
Finally, here’s an album that lives up to its punky cover art. For me though, it’s the slower, mid-tempo menace which really brings the album out of the shadows. ‘Another Reich’ is a prime example of that creeping, ominous premise, but it’s a song so darn catchy that mosh pits around the world should be nodding long atop such a dervish of a track. This is where Lee comes into his own, his vocal expressions a threatening grimace until the band leaps into another explosive fast-paced gallop. And the thrash pukes keep on coming; all littered with some dazzling solos and Lacky’s sturdy percussion.
This year I’ve enjoyed immensely the new releases from Destruction and Sodom (Under Attack and Decision Day, respectively) but neither matches the latest Darkness offering; a record so sincere in its old school merits that you could be forgiven for thinking that we’ve been transported back to about 1986.
The catchy ‘Welcome To Pain’, the hammering ‘L.A.W.’, and the ominous title track exude so much arrogance and menace that you begin to wonder why these guys had so much trouble emerging from the shadows of Germany’s more well-known acts. The chug of the title track and speed metal fury of closer ‘This Bullet’s For You’ are tremendous thrash metal expressions. Hints of crossover are scant, but effective enough to lace this instalment with a punky, riotous edge. In fact, swallowing a Molotov cocktail is the only way I can think of truly describing this thrash metal masterclass.
Neil Arnold
