Surviving Sounds releases Our Bodies Burned Bright on Re-Entry, the debut full album by homegrown Nottingham Black Metal band Underdark. The line-up is Abi Vasquez on vocals, Adam Kinson on guitar, Dan Hallam on drums, and Ollie Jones on guitar. Since forming in 2015, Underdark has released the E.P. Mourning Cloak, and a split release with fellow local metallers Antre. In 2020 there was the single 'Plainsong' (a cover of The Cure record), with the B-side 'With Bruised and Bloodied Feet'. Our Bodies Burned Bright on Re-Entry was recorded and mixed with Misha Herring at Holy Mountain Studio, and Mastered by Adam Gonsalves at Telegraph Mastering. The band has toured extensively across the country – taking in the Bloodstock festival – and in Europe. This album addresses issues such as addiction and psychosis, and is available on Vinyl, Cassette, CD and Digital Download...

Although I am a long-time appreciator of Metal in its many forms, I had a problem with this album from the start – and it became more deep-rooted the further into the songs I reached. The singer, albeit showing his versatility with screamed, growled and clean vocals, does quickly begin to grate because it’s relentless. The balance is lost because there is no real break from the vocals. Perhaps the band can investigate light and shade and when keeping quiet and allowing the melodies to speak can be more effective. In other words, less is more.

This presentation opens pleasantly enough with warm electro-acoustic guitar and accompanying bass sound, but we are soon slammed into a heavy but moderate sound which has the illusion (probably via the drums) of a faster pace. There is an underlying tune which never really comes to the fore. The changes in the music are subtle. A more prominent melody would keep listeners more invested in the whole, which is for the most part full-on and chaotic. Halfway through the title track there is a return to the much more assailable atmospheric guitar, but the coarse vocals clash with this, before the mayhem returns.

I will say that this style of Black Metal leans more towards the 1980s Venom feel, but with touches of Doom and the undeniably pleasant Shoegaze ambience. It’s not really to my taste, so my review reflects that rather than calling the ability of the band into question. What I would say is that if Underdark become a little more diverse in the structure of their songs it would open more avenues going forward. But new acts can often experiment before they find their feet, and that’s to be expected. The reverb-driven guitar which opens 'Coyotes' is warm, inviting and reflective, but it is soon swept away by a persistent thrashing, causing the tracks to blend into a similar sound.

4

Ty Power