In the everchanging modern metal landscape, there’s a lot of crossover and ‘outside the norm’ types of experimenting going on. New act The Dark, which features Of Mice & Men’s Alan Ashby on guitar, has seen fit to take a look back into the past with everything from ’90s industrial, nu metal, and dark synth-y electronics into a metallic template, all while bringing it to the modern era. It’s a cinematic experience that hits all the right marks, and sets up The Dark as a band to watch.
The murky, industrial-tinged riffing of The Dark, and the moody atmosphere it sets feels like one of their most exciting qualities. “Chemicals” sets things up quickly, moving from pulsating electronic beats into mechanized riffing and alluring vocals from Craig Johns Jr., bringing it into a tantalizing mix that owes as much to the ’90s industrial scene as it does the modern metal/rock movement. It’s a tantalizing mix that can increase it’s heaviness, and does as the song progresses and jumps into a quick growled breakdown. Heavy grooves mark “Slip Away” and give it a cinematic Blade Runner/Cyberpunk feeling that benefits from a soaring chorus that elevates itself above the gritty electronic/riff combo that again augmented by a dip into more brutal metalcore moments.
On the catchier side of things is “Head of the Snake,” which all but slithers in a darkly melodic sense in a slow burn that knocks it out of the park with a rumbling and hyper catchy chorus. The industrial elements come out swinging on “Circles,” as does an almost danceable electronic underbelly. Slow grooves and swirling vocals make it an even more addictive cut, with rumbling bass and moments of ferocity. Ending the EP is “In Heaven There’s Nothing to See,” which has some noticeable Filter influences and features some of the thickest grooves to close things out.
The Dark manage to merge both old and new with their first EP. It’s heavy, thick with electronic and industrial influences, and has a seedy electronic feel that come together in a very cinematic fashion. Those who are looking for a modern metal group that’s going to likely break in the same way that Bad Omens and Spiritbox have in recent years, odds are high in The Dark’s favor to follow suit with their addictive mix that has a wide swath of appeal, both in and outside of the genre lines.