Rating: 8/10
Genre: Metal/Alternative
Many metal bands key weakness is there inability to change their formula. This has never been an issue for Leeds quartet Humanfly, who it seems are constantly evolving into a more impressive force to be reckoned with. Darker Later is no different in this respect as it improves upon the trademark sounds from both their first and second albums mashing both up into a hellishly dark monstrosity. Their debut God Among Insects consisted of fast heavy riffs and hardcore style screams with few of their songs passing the two minute mark. The follow up album II gave a huge nod towards post-metal bands like Isis and Neurosis mixing their heavy riffs with sparse melodic segments with songs often stretching towards to 10 minute mark.
Darker Later sees the band mold these two styles together to make heavier more immediate tracks with subtler melodic and atmospheric tinkerings. In essence they have taken the best aspects from both previous records and created a new entity that is bigger, badder and better than ever. Tracks like opener "This Is Where Your Parents Fucked" surge with the raw power of a lumbering colossus whilst "Stew For The Murder Minded" is a fast paced hardcore racket where the screams of lead singer John try and break through the thick sludge riffs. Another highlight is title track "Darker Later" a dark melodic interlude that serves to make the crushing intro of "Heavy Black Snow" that extra bit devastating.
Overall there is no doubt in my mind that this is Humanfly's greatest work to date. The beauty of this record is the variety because whilst there is a huge range of styles employed all of them are executed masterfully without compromising the flow of the record. Highly recommended to any metal fan.
Download: "This Is Where Your Parents Fucked" "Darker Later"
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