Darkest Hour

Hardcore/metal hybrid brigade Darkest Hour have never been afraid to display their influences proudly upon their sweat-stained sleeves. In fact, they're one of few bands with the cojones to go so far as to challenge their heroes with an offer to partake in some capacity. This time around, seventh opus The Human Romance finds them taking on Soilwork guitarist Peter Wichers (who produces) in an effort to see exactly who's louder, more aggressive and demonic. Three guesses as to who wins that fixed fight. From the get-go, The Human Romance is one of Darkest Hour's more prodigious affairs, maintaining the solid presentation of predecessor The Eternal Return and its foray into an inimitable Darkest Hour sound. Smashing serene melodic interludes between explosive melodic onslaughts, offset by lumbering half-time dirges ensures that the ratio of hardcore grunt to melodic death metal to just taking a break from all that extremity is well timed and engaging. Rife with razor-sharp chug riffs, bellowing screams and more hammer-ons than a roofing convention, The Human Romance isn't mind-blowing, but it does maintain Darkest Hour's forward momentum, even 16 years on.