Artist: Darkseed
Title: Poison Awaits
Genre: Heavy Metal / Gothic Metal
Release Dates: 23rd July 2010
Label: Massacre Records
Album Review
DARKSEED is a gothic metal band from Germany. Formed in 1992, they’ve gone through the rise and fall of gaining members, losing members, releasing albums, and doing tours. Recently, they’ve acquired a new vocalist so ‘Poison Awaits’ has become his proving ground. Fans of the past DARKSEED releases should not shy away, and new fans will probably enjoy their latest album very much because it is heavily electronic influenced with plenty of hard rock melodies, similar to bands like DOMMIN or GOTHMINISTER. The atmosphere of the album is dark, evil and twisted with just that touch of romance to make the women swoon a little bit (if of course, they aren’t head banging first.)
‘Poison Awaits’ opens with ‘Roads’ which has a thick industrial sound to it with the crunching guitars and electronically enhanced vocals. The new vocalist has that low croon that makes gothic metal so dark and romantic, and often allows the electronics to give his voice even more of an edge. At times like those this is when the band sounds most like GOTHMINISTER. ‘Incinerate’ sounds a bit different, vocally, as he changes his pitch to sound a bit higher and more melodic, forsaking the low gruff croon he used in the earlier track. The music is also a bit heavier on the guitar side but the keyboards are still very active and clear throughout the song. The drums continue onward with their heavy, slow pace, usually getting lost because they sound so calm when everything else is a raging cacophony. ‘Seeds of Sorrow’ tones things down a bit by emphasizing the romantic, emotional side of DARKSEED by lending most of the instrumental work to the vocals of being in the forefront. The guitars and drums are present by they sound much more sombre and less energetic than before. Yet, this gives listeners a chance to be able to enjoy the vocals in all their glory. By this point, the new vocalist is already probably accepted into the fan circle and chained to stay in their minds.
For those who don’t really like the slower tracks, don’t worry, as there’s plenty of heavier ones. ‘Torn to Shatters’ features a mid paced rolling cruncher with a doom metal influence in distortion and some interesting lyrics. ‘No Promise in the Heavens’ kicks things back into industrial gear with some catchy beats and then explodes with some vicious riffs that seem to wake the drums back up to sound a bit louder and livelier. ‘Timeless Skies’ is another moody track, but features some great piano to go along with the drums, and brings a great emphasis to atmosphere. Finally, ‘King in the Sun’ is a great melodic gothic metal track and the vocals again change their style offering a low croon but without the electronic enhancements. At this point, it sounds even better because of the romantic undertones and it doesn’t mix up with the distortion of the guitars. The electronic elements are there as well, but they don’t saturate the song too much.
‘Poison Awaits’ is yet another milestone in gothic metal. Everything is pretty great about this album because it is not only an album that can get crowds energized at a concert it also likely to find the music in a metal club somewhere. Something that one can dance or mosh to bears excellent marks. DARKSEED have come a long way sing their 1996 debut, but it is fitting that ten years later their work sounds better. Perhaps earning their new vocalist was the best move for them since his range is excellent and he knows how to emote himself in a gothic metal style that is both fresh, yet expected. The electronic elements are well placed without turning things into techno and the guitars - along with the drums - feature more than enough distortion and heavy chords to make DARKSEED still pretty heavy metal certainly worth checking out for fans of HIM or THE FORESHADOWING.
Tracklist
01. Roads (3:27)
02. Incinerate (6:18)
03. Poison Awaits (4:22)
04. Seeds of Sorrow (4:40)
05. All Is Vanity (4:23)
06. Black Throne (4:42)
07. A Dual Pact (3:59)
08. Torn To Shatters (6:00)
09. No Promise in the Heavens (4:25)
10. Striving For Fire (5:09)
11. Timeless Skies (4:18)
12. King in the Sun (4:29)
Line-up
Herald Winkler - Vocals
Thomas Herrman - Guitar
Tom Gilcher - Guitar
Michael Behnke - Bass
Maurizio Guolo - Drums
Armin Dorfler - Keyboards
Website
http://www.darkseed.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/darkseedband
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 9
Sound: 9
Total: 9 / 10
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