Darkest Hour - The Human Romance

Why is it that once I hear a snippet of a Darkest Hour song I continue to sing their music for the rest of the day?  A band that has been ripping through the music scene for the better part of a 15+ year career and continue to make some amazing cutting edge metalcore.  A band I find has been under the radar for many years that easily has the ability to tour with some of the biggest names in the game.

First introduction to these guys came at a relatively early age into their career, and I still remember it to this day.  Almost 10+ years ago I had a fellow music lover enter the record shop I was working at.  He was looking to drop a few of the albums he has spun a few times and looking to trade up for some new music.  Fair enough and good for me since I was very willing to go through his stash and see what he had.  Going through the names like Leng Tch'e, Cult of Luna, Arch Enemy, and the newcomers Darkest Hour and their album "Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation".  I little on the heavy side for me but ultimately got into my regular rotation after hearing their instrumental track "Veritas, Aequitas".

So a lot has happened between the first encounter to the album I am discussing now.  "HHoaSN" dropped in 2003, with follow up albums "Undoing Ruin" (2005), "Deliver Us" (2007), "The Eternal Return" (2009), and the now the latest work of the five piece group "The Human Romance", released on February 22nd, 2011 via E1 Music.  Note that all other releases prior to THR were under their longtime label Victory Records.  This marked the first (and seemingly only) album from another label.  To those who follow the band, their latest album shall fall under Sumerian Records (sometime in 2014).  So let's move on with the album at hand.

1. Terra Nocturnus
2. The World Engulfed in Flames
3. Savor the Kill
4. Man & Swine
5. Love as a Weapon
6. Your Everyday Disaster
7. Violent by Nature
8. Purgatory
9. Severed into Separates
10. Wound
11. Terra Solaris
12. Beyond the Life You Know

Album credits go a few notable folks.  Production of the album goes to recognizable musician Peter Wichers, who not only has extensive recording and touring experience with Soilwork but also has produced some amazing albums from bands such as All That Remains, Nevermore, and Soilwork.  Album photography and design were taken care of by Paul Grosso (creative director), Andrew Kelley (art direction, design), and Tom Medvedich (photography).



"We have been working on these tunes ever since we left the studio last April. 'The Eternal Return' was written during a very dark, bleak time for the band and I think that record matches that in both tone and character. Our vision was for it to be an in-your-face, no-frills aggressive assault. The new material shares in that aggression and pushes Darkest Hour beyond the unknown." -Mike Schleibaum

So not diving into every track here since I'm sure you ca form your own opinion of the tracks, but earlier when I mentioned singing DH for the rest of the day, "Savor The Kill"  happened to be one of those tracks.  Intense drumming by Ryan Parish (who unfortunately left the band shortly after it's release), time conscious dueling guitars from Michael "Lonestar" Carrigan/Mike Schleibaum, Paul Burnette bringing the low end on bass (who also unfortunately left the band shortly after it's release), and of course the main man John Henry tearing it up on the vocals.  The combination equates to one hell of an album!



Recommended tracks for the album are "The World Engulfed In Flames", "Savor The Kill", "Love as a Weapon", and "Purgatory".  Yes, some of them are the singles for the album but sometimes you can't argue with what they chose to release and promote the album.  Same as people (probably) don't turn on the Metallica's Black Album to listen to "My Friend of Misery" (haha only joking).

Have at er and be sure to drop your own comments and thoughts about Darkest Hour.  Ever seen them live?  Own one of their albums?  Die hard fan?  Let's hear it!