Doomriders - Darkness Come Alive
Rating
RIYL
CursedBaroness
Disappearer
Coliseum
Release Date
09/29/2009
Label
Deathwish Inc.Tracklist
1. Fade From Black2. Heavy Lies The Crown
3. Bear Witness
4. Knife Wound
5. Come Alive
6. Night Howler
7. Crooked Path
8. Lions
9. The Equalizer
10. Night Lurker
11. Jealous God
12. Mercy
13. Night Beckons
14. Blood Avenger
15. Bloodsucker
16. Untitled
17. Rotter
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Four years have come to pass since Doomriders unleashed Black Thunder, and a lot has changed in the world since then. The skies have turned a gloomy grey and black; the oceans to an opaque coal; the earth has gradually been covered in soot and ash; buildings abandoned; trees have hollowed out and left to rot; wildlife has become virtually nonexistent. Darkness Come Alive is the apocalypse.
The progression brought forth on this sophomore effort is quite evident. The fun, groove oriented 1970s rock 'n' roll that was once so prominently portrayed by these proclaimed “death ‘n’ rollers” has instead turned to a destructive car collision of noise with its passengers doom and gloom riding shotgun. Dark and ominous soundscapes sharpen the blade of the scythe that continuously carves the grim atmospherics into lush portraits crafted by the late Zdzisław Beksiński. Songs like the sludge laden “Jealous God”, “Bloodsucker”, and “Knife Wound” showcase the sheer ferocity of wolves as they enclose upon their fallen prey and sink glimmering teeth into flesh. The black sheep of the record is ironically the title-esque track “Come Alive,” as it pays homage to the band's debut, Black Thunder. The song opens with happier brush strokes as the electrifyingly gritty yet elated guitar work of both vocalist Nate Newton (Converge) and Chris Pupecki (Cast Iron Hike) manage to break through the heavy, dark clouds with a sliver of sunlight to the backdrop of shimmering keys, even if only for a moment.
The biggest setback with Darkness Come Alive isn’t the somewhat lackluster lyrics that feel rather forced and unpleasant at times ("Choke on all their lies / wasted all their lives / lowest of the low / You’ve got the heart of a lion”). No, it’s that however menacing and catastrophic this sophomore effort may be, the handful of filler psychedelic tracks thrown in to enhance the brooding effects only seem to hinder the band's post-apocalyptic demolition of a ruined city. “Night Howler”, “Night Lurker”, “Night Beckons”, and “Untitled” feel more so like discarded attempts at reenacting paranormal activity than anything else.
In the end, Doomriders set out to do exactly what they meant to do with Darkness Come Alive; bring the post-apocalyptic world to life while bringing civilization to its knees, sucking with dry lungs for air.
--Daniel Alcinii
Comments
Lehigh Valley, PA
Album is awesome. End of story.
Ann Arbor, MI
one of the best albums of the year!!
DETH ROK!!!!
Toronto, Ontario
Has anyone ever checked out Zdzisław Beksiński? His work is ridiculous.
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