Band:	Darkened
Album:	Lord Of Sickness And Bile
Style:	Death metal
Release date:	July 2023

01. Steal Kill Destroy
02. Archaic Wounds

For the second time this year, I'm reviewing a two-song death metal EP with black-and-white cover art. And for the second time, it's a release that is short but sweet.

I first discovered the Swedish/Canadian band Darkened last year with The Black Winter, their second full-length album. A look at their band page gave me the initial impression of a young band, as Darkened has only existed since 2018. However, further research reveals that this band is, in fact, an ensemble of players who are highly experienced. For instance, guitarist Brynolfsson has been in the business since 1988, while bassist Christiansson played with Swedish legends Dismember for five years. Each member has performed in numerous bands before, and this experience is honed in Darkened's work.

This EP titled Lord Of Sickness And Bile showcases a black-and-white skeleton on the cover like all of their previous releases. The musical style also reflects the continuity of the band's approach. The first song "Steal-Kill-Destroy" exemplifies Darkened's style perfectly with its catchy chorus, fiercely growling (yet surprisingly understandable) vocals, energetic rhythm, and the prominent use of melodic riffs. Despite the use of pleasant melodies, I would definitely not group Darkened together with melodeath or Gothenburg bands such as Be'lakor or In Flames. The combination of dark intensity and haunting guitar leads actually reminds me of Slugdge's melodic style, in a way.

The second track, "Archaic Wounds", starts off aggressive, but slowly evolves into a slower song. The melodic harmonies take over, and the vocal cries grow increasingly desperate and strained. It's a remarkable performance, and the song flies by so quickly that I find myself hitting the replay button as soon as I hear it end with subtle, melancholic piano playing.

In conclusion, this EP confirms it: Darkened are one of the best death metal acts at the moment, delivering on the songwriting and performance fronts with a great vocalist, engaging melodies, and a complementary, solid production sound.