The Darkening - Awake [Underrated Old School Death Metal]



The Darkening is Belgian band that existed between 1993 and 1999.

Following a demo in 1995, they self-released their one-and-only full-length in 1996.

Awake is death metal with strong doom and black metal elements, and some tasty synth action.

The album has something of a Greek sound, it could certainly be filed next to early Rotting Christ.

Original copies are rare, but a bootleg version has recently hit the market.

You can preview this lesser-known gem in full below.

Popular posts from this blog

Deicide - Banished By Sin [Forthcoming Release]

Image
Banished By Sin is album number thirteen from these death metal legends. It has been six years since Deicide 's last effort, and has felt like longer thanks to this one having been teased for so long - it was announced seven months ago, and we only got to hear the first single (which can be found at the bottom of this post) on Christmas Day. It will finally be released on 26th April, brought to us by new label Reigning Phoenix Music. The last couple of albums were excellent, so hopes are very high going into this one.
Read more

Malformed - Uncontrollable Malformity [REVIEW]

Image
Uncontrollable Malformity   is the first release from this Finnish band. Originally put out (on cassette and vinyl) in January 2023, by Rotted Life, it has taken a full year for the CD to materialise. The five tracks here are well-produced, while maintaining an appropriate level of filth. Memorable riffs, captivating leads, and a lot of early Corpsegrinder-era Cannibal Corpse-style groove. A thoroughly impressive effort from these youngsters, death metal of the highest order. We are very much looking forward to their debut album.
Read more

Twenty-Five Underrated Old School Death Metal Albums

Image
25 albums, from 25 bands that haven't been featured before. Delirium ( Netherlands ) - Zzooouhh ( Prophecy, 1990 ): Cerebral Fix ( UK ) - Tower Of Spite ( Roadracer, 1990 ): Desecrator ( UK ) - Subconscious Release ( R.K.T, 1990 ): Therion ( Sweden ) - Of Darkness ( Deaf, 1991 ): Morgoth ( Germany ) - Cursed ( Century Media, 1991 ): Immortalis ( Germany ) - Indicium De Mortuis ( Morbid, 1991 ): Sadus ( US ) - A Vision Of Misery ( Roadracer, 1992 ): Cianide ( US ) - The Dying Truth ( Grind Core, 1992 ): Cemetary ( Sweden ) - An Evil Shade Of Grey ( Black Mark, 1992 ): Polluted Inheritance ( Netherlands ) - Ecocide (W est Virginia, 1992 ): Sentenced ( Finland ) - Shadows Of The Past ( Thrash, 1992 ): Solstice ( US ) - Solstice ( Century Media, 1992 ): Brutality ( US ) - Screams Of Anguish ( Nuclear Blast, 1993 ): Killing Addiction ( US ) - Omega Factor ( JL America, 1993 ): Decompos
Read more