Demonic Art (W/Dvd)

To me, Darkane is one of the few bands that excels at merging insanity and melody together. This is largely due to having Christofer Malmstrom on lead guitar and Peter Wildoer manning the drums. After hearing their debut "Rusted Angel", I've been absolutely hooked. With each release, they've moved sideways in a sense (which Christofer mentions of this release in their video diary). Never moving out of their core sound, but instead injecting something new and twisted.

They've done it again.

The album's intro slides you into a sort of daze and makes it that much easier to turn off your brain and welcome the chaos. "Leaving Existence" takes hold and doesn't let go until the 2 minute mark. You're welcomed with a solo that fits perfectly, then insane-driven screaming, then another solo with Peter hammering away about half-way through. The song finishes...but you can't tell because it slips into their title track. If you've made it this far, don't resist. The thoughts of lashing out at whatever around you can't be suppressed.

I won't go into this album song by song, because the above paragraph pretty much sums up what it's like. Each is perfectly balanced with madness and melody. Oh, and if you were put off by the fact that Darkane has a new singer (Jens Broman), don't be. Jens picks up right where Andreas Sydow left off.

If you've liked any other Darkane album, you'll love this. If you haven't listened to Darkane before, give this and their "Rusted Angel" album a chance. Standout tracks are "Execution 44", "Soul Survivor", and "Wrath Connection", which to me is their best album-closer to date. This album flat-out cuts into your soul.

I had never really heard of Darkane before I heard that they were opening for Soilwork on Soilwork's last Rejection Role tour. I read a little bit about them and saw a lot that they are, like In Flames and Soilwork, one of the major Swedish melodic death metal bands.

I have to say, in terms of talent and musical quality, this CD easily stands neck to neck with any work by In Flames and Soilwork. If anything, the main thing that probably prevents them from being as popular is that they are WAAAYYY heavier and in your face. Like Nevermore versus Opeth, Darkane is darker and more menacing than their more popular brethren, but this CD is so good to listen to when you're pissed off and in traffic!

Darkane is like if you took In Flames' melodic drum and guitar work, threw in Testament's thrash and speed, and on top of that add Pantera or Lamb of God's vocal aggression.

The other impression I have of this particular album, is that it is NON STOP, there are literally no breaks between some songs and it just totally kicks your butt from start to finish, with hardly a break (maybe 2 breaks in between songs?? on the whole CD).

This is pretty much a must buy CD for any super heavy metal fan, and the band was awesome live as well.

As a Darkane fan from the start, and someone who considers their debut to be one of the finest metal albums ever made, I consider this to be a true return to form after a couple of fine but unremarkable releases. Don't get me wrong, every Darkane album is good, but not necessarily great. I've always felt that - after such a fantastic first release - Darkane became less unique and started trying to follow in the footsteps of Meshuggah . . . which numerous lesser bands were already trying to accomplish with far less talent than Darkane. Insanity in particular seemed to be a bit mashed together, more rhythmically chaotic and with emphasis on the drums over all else, and the vocals (undestandably different) were very one-dimensional. Expanding Senses was a step in the right direction, and Layers of Lies was a strong release, but I think that Demonic Art will make listeners new and old pay closer attention to what Darkane is all about.

This is by far Darkane's most melodic material overall, both instrumentally and vocally. Jens Broman has an excellent voice that stands out in a sea of copycat growlers-turned-"singers" that have permeated every niche of metal these days. He is as versatile as Lawrence Mackrory was on Rusted Angel, albeit with less black metal screeching and more clean singing. The guitars sit just right in the mix, not having to fight with the drums and bass to be heard. Lots of excellent riffs and solos all over the place, and the songs seem to "go somewhere" rather than just being a collection of musical puzzle pieces that may or may not fit.

Having seen Darkane on their recent North American tour, I really hope that they start getting some proper recognition and take their sound around the world. They have surpassed their countrymen in In Flames, Soilwork and Arch Enemy in virtually every category, and deserve to be a household name.