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LIVING DARKNESS
The Three Daggers EP

Self-released (2024)
Rating: 8/10

Four years after their 2020 debut full-length album The Bishop, Los Angeles, California-based rockers Living Darkness continue their intermittent quest with a new three-song EP, The Three Daggers.

Jeff Aldana (vocals), Eddy Mendoza (guitar), Danielle Gomez (bass) and Ulises Hernandez (drums) are responsible for quite the epic sounding and varied experience, even if it’s all over after just 15 minutes. If you don’t know Living Darknes then I’d describe them somewhat as theatrical in their stance as flashes of King Diamond mash with traditional elements of Iron Maiden and Saxon.

There is a wild and colourful edge to the band as they vibrantly flit through dim, Gothic corridors and rip into ‘The Healer’. Dual guitar attacks, smoking dark melodies and flecks of thrashy Judas Priest form a kaleidoscopic brew as the track gallops with a crystal clear vim and brooding intensity.

Very late 80s in its design, the whole EP – also featuring ‘Not Your Prisoner’ with its lashing impactful chorus, and ‘Kiss Of Death’ with its hammering percussion and molten steel axework – boasts that classic cocksure swagger. The vocals are a potent joy to behold as Aldana smoothly yet powerfully brings a mood that hints at Anthrax at their darkest. The crunch and fluidity, especially on ‘Kiss Of Death’, also reminds me of modern Anthrax with the dynamic metallic chugs.

The sound Living Darkness boasts is so emphatically enchanting and The Three Daggers is a pure molten volcano for metalheads everywhere.

Neil Arnold

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