DARKEST ERA

Darkest Era hail from Ireland, land of Thin Lizzy and Primordial. With the former stated as one of their influences, it makes me feel less guilty and journalistically lazy in making an Irish connection with their sound by suggesting the music on 'The Last Caress of Light' also bears similarities to Alan 'Nemtheanga' Averill & co. In fact, the press sheet could very well be describing Primordial by declaring Darkest Era combine elements of "doom, black, and pagan metal" since changing their name from Nemesis in 2007, by which point the "songs became darker with a more epic leaning". However, Primordial comparisons are only tenuous and manifest mainly through the passages of Celtic influenced metalled-up Irish folk together with frontman Krum's clean vocals which sound not a million miles apart from those of Nemtheanga in their passionate delivery. And passion is the primary strength of Darkest Era's brand of metal - this is no-nonsense, unpretentious heavy music with an affective intensity that's so often missing from the over-produced output of bands that would choose to label themselves as "modern metal". For modern this is not, and I mean that in no small way as a criticism (after all, styles and subgenres of metal have always been ephemeral and cyclical in terms of popularity so what exactly constitutes "modern" anyway?), rather 'The Last Caress of Light' has distinct retro and traditional metal flavours seasoned with the aforementioned sprinkle of folk. Ade Mulgrew and Sarah Wieghell's guitars sound incredible throughout with nicely layered rhythm/lead harmonies while Lisa Howe's drumming adds to, and is a constituent part of, the passion inherent in the music with some well thought out rhythms and fills. The songwriting's of a high standard as tracks ooze both melancholic and upbeat melodies in every single bar of music. A break in the heaviness arrives with penultimate song 'Poem to the Gael', a more straight folk number, before they hit you with their final epic burst in the form of the eleven minute long title track, itself commencing as a clean folk piece before the heaviness kicks in. A great end to a fantastic debut album. It's easy to see why Metal Blade signed these Irish peeps. Great stuff.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Metal Blade

Album

THE LAST CARESS OF LIGHT

Review by Mark Holmes

RUNNING TIME:

58:22

RELEASE DATE:

14th February 2011

TRACK LISTING

1) The Morrigan
2) An Ancient Fire Burns
3) Beneath the Frozen Sky
4) Heathen Burial
5) Visions of the Dawn
6) To Face the Black Tide
7) Poem to the Gael
8) The Last Caress of Light Before the Dark

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Ireland

"...passion is the primary strength of Darkest Era's brand of metal - this is no-nonsense, unpretentious heavy music with an affective intensity..."