Force Of Darkness - Absolute Verb Of Chaos And Darkness

Force Of Darkness

Absolute Verb Of Chaos And Darkness

by Dave “That Metal Guy” Campbell at 29 August 2014, 7:30 PM

FORCE OF DARKNESS is a Black/Thrash Metal band from Santiago, Chile.  They formed in 2002, and have released two demo albums, two full length albums, and this eight-track EP.

Following a wicked, sonic instrumental opening, “Masay” is the first track with vocals.  This is pretty traditional Black Metal, with that familiar one-two, half step chord change, gravely, undiscernible vocals and an overall feeling of evil.  The guitars are down-tuned, and the track has a very heavy bass feel.  “Global Annihilation” opens just as the song title suggests, with bombs and gunfire.  When the vocals enter, it is a swift paced assault that is over before you can comprehend what you just heard.  Listen to it again.  The fourth track, “Crush the Seals,” features a more familiar Thrash kind of riff, but with plenty of bombast.  Deep, dark and brooding, it diverts into a slower grind just past the halfway mark, where an eerie guitar solo pierces the upper ranges, before returning back.  “Perversion Rites” follows suit.  A running, heavily picked guitar riff and blast beat drumming carry this short track to its end.  “Mouth of the Grave” is more of the same.  As brutal and pure to the style that this album is so far, I haven’t heard much in the way of variation.  Though “The Black” is swifter in pace and features some varied vocals, we still hear that familiar pattern.  Closing the album is the outro, “Malevolent Desolation.”  The evil, mysterious tone they are able to impart with minimal instrumentation is noted.

Overall I find this album obvious to seasoned veterans of the Black Metal scene.  Though I am not advocating for a complete change in style, I do think they could keep the genre fresh with a little more variation or experimentation, something to break up the core every now and again.