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[9/10] It’s been a long time between releases for Boston-based outfit Doomriders, but given the demands of their other bands (bassist/vocalist Jebb Riley is a member of Disappearer, guitarist Chris Pupecki is in Cast Iron Hike, guitarist/vocalist Nate Newton of Converge and drummer John-Robert Conners plays in Cave In), the long delay for something new is understandable.
But, four years after the release of the band’s debut full-length effort Black Thunder, and after a string of teaser EP’s in the meantime, Doomriders are finally back with long awaited sophomore effort Darkness Come Alive.
Despite the strength of Doomriders’ debut effort, it has to be said that Darkness Come Alive is a huge improvement on every level, with the group’s hybrid mix of hardcore, stoner metal and metallic punk rock melding together to near perfection throughout their latest effort.
The opening track “Heavy Lies the Crown” is a perfect example of the band’s ability to cover a variety of genres without sounding like any one particular sound. Hook driven and with an emphasis on a chorus, “Heavy Lies the Crown” is a powerful mass of noise, volume and melody from the group, and one that announces their return in a seriously crushing manner. Following on in similar fashion is the classic “Come Alive,” which more than channels the band’s obvious Danzig worship on the vocal front, the rather different sounding “Crooked Path,” the stomping “The Equalizer”, the slower and darker “Jealous God” and the rocking “Blood Avenger.”
Taking their attacking/rocking sound in an entirely new direction is the intense “Bear Witness,” the pulverising “Knife Wound,” “Lions,” the hammering “Mercy,” the fast paced-hardcore blast of “Bloodsuckers” and the dirty and destructive closer “Rotter.”
Although there was no denying that Doomriders would deliver a worthwhile release when they eventually found the time to make a new album, I have to admit that Darkness Come Alive took me completely by surprise. Doomriders have taken the potential hinted at on their debut album and expanded upon it on Darkness Come Alive, and in the process delivered one of 2009’s unexpected killer releases that’s sure to be listed as one of my favourites for the year.
www.myspace.com/doomriders
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