Labels: Self-Released
Formats:CD/Digital
Release Date: 08 May 2020
Tracklist:
1. Burden Hardest To Bear
2. Turn These Eyes Blind
3. The Darkened Await
4. Between Ghosts
It's not often that I feature Welsh bands, mainly because I don't get many heavy bands contacting from across the border anymore. Between Ghosts is the newest EP from South Wales modern metal/hard rockers And The Sky Darkened, following their 2016 debut The Fracture. This quartet counts the likes of Killswitch Engage, Tool and Alter Bridge as influences, so that's a pretty good place to start. Let's see if they can put Cardiff on the map.
Ever since a certain Welsh “rock star” proclaimed that there are no decent metal bands in the UK anymore, people have been out to prove him wrong. And The Sky Darkened are one band aiming to do that and on Between Ghosts they make a good argument for the UK underground. ‘Burden Hardest To Bear” is s slickly produced, professional sounding song to start on. It’s up-tempo and really well written with well-performed drumming, bass and catchy riffs. The vocals are a mix of both the melodic and harsh with a nod to their US cousins in delivery.
‘Turn The Eyes Blind’ is moodier and technical, and goes further to remind me of earlier Trivium in places. Obviously comparisons are very much subjective but there’s no reason to dissuade And The Sky Darkened from taking the musical path they’re on. The further you get into the song, the more their Alter Bridge influence shows through as well and it only adds to their quality.
There’s something laid-back and progressive about ‘The Darkened Await’. As with the rest of the EP it’s very clean and maybe a little bit clinical sound-wise, but it’s that sound that will set them apart once more people hear this EP, so it serves them well. The harsher and heavier moments certainly save it from being just another generic hard rock EP.
Closing song and EP title-track ‘Between Ghosts’ is a gentle acoustic song to begin with but one that’s menacing too. It’s emotive and quite rousing as it builds, and as more instrumentation and vocal harmonies are layered within it. Overall, Between Ghosts is a decent EP from a band that are still finding their sound and personality. Give this your time when it’s released in May, as And The Sky Darkened deserve it.
You can stream 'The Darkened Await' from the EP via Youtube below:-
Keep an eye on their Facebook page for news on the physical and digital release.
And The Sky Darkened - https://www.facebook.com/AndTheSkyDarkened/
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