Anyone who has read my output over the years knows I can be a little heretical when it comes to enjoying hybridized metal (particularly metalcore, but a small selection of deathcore, djent and some of the other sub-sub-genre’s as well). Still, there’s something uniquely exhilarating about hearing extreme metal revitalized in all its evil, menacing glory – without the gimmicks, tricks and faux-artsy one-ups-manship so prevalent in the modern scene. It’s genuinely comforting to know that some bands are able to bring the right ingredients together for a fresh-sounding blast of extreme metal. And because of that, there’s something special about a band like Force of Darkness, a group who takes a no-nonsense approach akin to that of Possessed, Sarcofago, Hellhammer, early-Slayer and In the Sign of Evil-era Sodom.
In taking influences such as these, they manage to bring metal back to the nexus of thrash, death and black metal. On Absolute Verb of Chaos and Darkness, the metal listener is treated to a mighty feast of riffs, growls and even Tom Araya-style screams. Not to get redundant, but Force of Darkness have a unique ability to conjur up the darkness that made early extreme metal so potent and inspirational back in the mid-80’s. And they do it without being gross or overly profane and ridiculous. This allows the music’s extremity to speak for itself, with no need for over-the-top hysterics used to get attention.
And in this case at least, the EP format works quite nicely. Who needs a 70-minute magnum opus when you can get five great songs (well, six if you include the intro) that hit the mark where it counts?
Due to the EP’s brevity, there isn’t much room for complaint. The intro track was probably unnecessary, but doesn’t necessarily hurt. Perhaps two more songs would have been more satisfying, making Absolute Verb of Chaos and Darkness a full-length. But even with these very minor quibbles in mind, this is one fine slice of no-nonsense extreme metal.
8.5/10
Favorite Songs: Umm…all of them aside from the intro, seriously this owns.
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