Darkane Albums (4)
What The Critics Say
Prior to releasing their fourth album Layers of Lies in 2005, Sweden's Darkane had been sidelined for almost two years by everything from solo projects to physical injury to outright exhaustion; but the break did them a world of good and it's a noticeably refreshed -- though still imminently recognizable -- Darkane making their recorded return on this accomplished death metal/thrash album. And energetic death metal/thrash is exactly what we get, following a typically symphonic diversion to open up the LP (and later enriching closer "The Creation Insane"), but there's a lingering meatiness to Darkane's riffing (derived from their death metal roots, no doubt) that really distinguishes them from their mostly thrashier contemporaries, and marks them as something of a less fashion-prone proposition, to boot. At the same time, representative tunes like "Secondary Effect," "Organic Canvas," and the title track stick with traditional verse-chorus-verse structures -- not anything as free-form as old-school death metal, for maximum assimilation. Vocalist Andreas Sydow deserves special mention for his versatility, as he adeptly screams, snarls, and, yes, even sings to match each passage's needs; his choruses usually aided by carefully orchestrated vocal backups from his bandmates. Think Def Leppard gone neo-thrash and -- just kidding -- more like Fear Factory circa Demanufacture, actually. Anyhow, the latter can sound a tad forced on "Fading Dimensions" and "Vision of Degradation," but the surrounding instrumental ferocity generally counters any worries of commercial sellout on the spot. And when they really do break out of character for the trad-metal anomaly "Maelstrom Crisis," Darkane know to keep it short and keep it instrumental -- as if to assure their listeners that they too consider this an experimental aside. Further reason to assume that Layers of Lies will probably connect with fans of other Swedish post-death metal racers like Soilwork and the Haunted, while its added flair for complex riff-changes takes care of those metal-heads who find the latter a little too straightforward. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide
'Expanding Senses'
Release Date 1/1/2002
Tracks 9
Label Nuclear Blast
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Darkane's third album boasts a potent balance of brutality, musicality, and style. Somehow, this band manages to use melody without sacrificing intensity and to exploit all the extreme elements of death metal and grindcore without eschewing songs. Furthermore, Darkane's progressive chops never sink the music into schmaltzy neo-classical melodrama like so many of the band's Scandinavian peers. A stunning synthesis of metal styles. ~ Andy Hinds, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Insanity, Darkane's follow-up to Rusted Angel, shares much in common with its predecessor despite Darkane's lineup shift. Daniel Bergstrand was once again given control of the recording console, giving Insanity the producer's trademark concussive sound. Peter Wildoer's instrumental abuse drives the music thanks to Bergstrand's massive drum sound and punchy mixes. And as with Lawrence Mackrory before, new vocalist Andreas Sydow has only a marginal impact. Sydow's more controlled bellowing might strike some as an improvement, but it's the thrash-influenced Swedish death riffing that makes Darkane interesting. There are many moments of near-virtuoso accomplishment and athleticism here. Darkane shreds its way through one riff after the next with room here and there for Sydow's shouting and the occasional melodic guitar blast. Musicians and listeners impressed with pure chops should enjoy Insanity, while casual listeners may not enjoy the abuse. ~ Vincent Jeffries, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
By the late '90s, the list of Swedish extreme metal bands trying to formulate an identity via one part melodic death and one part something else (usually a closely related genre) was getting out of hand. But outfits like Darkane just kept on coming. Released in 1999, Rusted Angel introduced the underground metal community to Darkane and their melodic death mixed with a liberal dose of thrash. Speed is the key component to this group's onslaught, and they generally use it to fine effect. If the goal was to create a vertiginous feeling inside the heads of unsuspecting listeners, then Rusted Angel has to be a smashing success for Darkane. The music is measured and focused to within a nanometer, giving it a punch that should stun even experienced extreme metal aficionados. Vocalist Lawrence Mackroy is rendered inert by his bandmates' instrumental punishment as the whole lot of them roll gleefully over the top. Comparisons are difficult, but fans of Arch Enemy, Meshuggah, and Forbidden's heaviest might find something to like about Rusted Angel -- a brutal, if not entirely memorable exercise. ~ Vincent Jeffries, All Music Guide
