Review - Darkest Hour – The Human Romance

The Human Romance opens with an intensely brooding intro in Terra Nocturnes, before bursting into life with the full blooded assault of The World Engulfed In Flames, sounding as apocalyptic as the title would suggest. Lead singer John Henry is on fire from the get go, with his hoarse screamed vocals working well with the chaos the band around him create. It may be well considered as hardcore by numbers, but when it works, it is something special. The songs on this album are purpose built for the live environment, to allow the diehards to throw down en masse, and in that regard, this latest offering is the perfect Darkest Hour release.

There is an almost punk-like energy searing throughout the veins of this record, and at times, Darkest Hour throw down like a thrash metal band, with a ferocious, and intense sound.

Man & Swine starts in thunderous fashion, and will have you banging your head in an instant, and the cries of “This is a war” in Love As A Weapon, could not be anymore prophetically put, as it builds slowly before reaching a simmering and clattering crescendo of violence and aggression. As I said, the thrash influences are clear to see on tracks such as Your Everyday Disaster, with fast and frenetic guitar savagery being evident on this, and the likes of Purgatory.

Instrumental epic Terra Solaris once more sets the context for final track Before The Life You Know, to send the album out on a high, with the listener knowing at its climax that they have very much just listened to one of the most essential hardcore releases of the year.

Sometimes hardcore can be a little bit throwaway, but this is well thought out, effective, and anthemic, and is a great record because of it.

7.5/10