The Gothenburg metal movement music is what got me into
metal back in the days. Hence however far may I wander into different sub genres,
Melodic Death Metal will always hold a special place for me. Although new
melodic death metal bands are churning out in huge numbers, very few leave
their mark, all sounding too similar or giving a feel of having heard the music
before. Darkest Horizon on the other hand is one which leaves a permanent
imprint on the listener’s mind. Describing their sound as “Epic Melodic Death Metal”
– Darkest Horizon are one of the most original Melodic Death Metal band I have
had the pleasure of listening to in recent times.
It was out of pure luck (and YouTube’s recommendations) that
I stumbled upon Darkest Horizon and their new album “The Grand Continuum”. The
haunting voice of Aurelius Lie, with the amazing use of synth and keyboard by Christian
Mühlbauer add a wonderful symphonic touch to the music. Just the right amount
of symphonic elements in the background. With the melodic guitar riffs leading
the way. The exquisite drum work by Phil Hammelmann has to be praised. The
perfect synchronized drum work gives the whole album a perfect groove.
One of the standout tracks is “A Thousand Dreams”, the track
has a very diverse feel to it, with vibes of death-doom, power and symphonic
black metal. It consists of a slow build up as the instruments kick in one by
one. If you are not already hooked, the melodic death-doom start will definitely
have you paying full attention to the record. The track adds its layers, as a
wonderful speedy mix of drum pounding, keyboard and brutal riffs kick in. A
power metal guitar solo towards the end adds its own charm.
Tracks like “Utopia” add another dimension to the music,
with the use of acoustic guitar. And with a story on universe and space, and
quotes from Galileo and Einstein, you have hit a bull’s eye with the astronomy
nerds! “Singularity Omega” is one of the faster track with a sick fast melodic
riff running through the track. Also the amazing bass and keys intro transports
the listener to a parallel universe.
Towards the end comes the longest and best track of the
album – “Interdimensional”. The 10
minute epic track, encompasses everything that The Grand Continuum is, an epic
melodic death metal album, with great diversity and a sound unlike any other. The
progressive sounding interlude takes the song into another dimension before
kicking right back in.
Overall, Darkest Horizon have delivered an album that is
more than just a strong debut album. It showcases how talented this group is
and with the necessary support they could well be on their way to making it big
in the Melodic Death Metal scene. Have we uncovered the next big Melodic Death
Metal band? The album definitely makes me feel that we have!
Sit back. Press the play button. And get ready to witness
the rebirth of universe in the most epic manner possible!
