Label: Underground Syndicate
Genre: Death Metal
Length: 01:04:35
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Darah is a death metal band from Singapore. I must say that this is the first band from this Asian country that I have listened to — a new experience for me, as I enjoy exploring the international metal scene in all its forms. Darah formed in 2015 and released their first EP, Skinless, in 2018. This young band is now preparing to unveil their very first album, entitled Holier Than Thou, scheduled for release on 24 October via the Underground Syndicate label. The recording will be available in digital format and on Digipak CD.
The band offers direct, abrasive and methodical death metal. The guitars are fast, the drums maintain a constant intensity and marked aggression, particularly through the powerful blast beats on all sides. The vocals alternate between deep growls and shrill, high-pitched screams, inspired by old-school death metal. The tempo changes are well placed, even if the album remains generally lacking in nuance in its structure. As for the production, it highlights a resolutely modern sound. Holier Than Thou is one of the few albums that has caught my attention in recent weeks.
From the very first track, Eternal Descent, the tone is set: a frenetic rhythm, a short but powerful piece that clearly sets the direction for the album. Devour Us All continues in the same vein, with a furious vocal performance — I loved the scream at 1:22 — and an excellent guitar passage starting at 2:05. Dropped At Birth is a veritable avalanche of sound: the section starting at 1:48, carried by screams and frenetic blast beats, is simply killer.
On Cut By Plastic, the drums remain monstrous, relentless blast beats follow one after another, and at 2:08, the guitars give off a dark aura, followed by a perfectly placed solo at 2:48. The intensity doesn't let up with The Catalyst, where the atmosphere becomes heavier from 1:50 onwards. Perish continues to maintain the pressure with a composition that is both violent and dark.
Next comes Convulsions, whose vocals trigger a real feeling of rage from 0:46 onwards. The scream at 2:12 introduces a guitar solo that slowly unfolds, stretching out over several seconds. Iblis keeps the same fast and brutal tempo; I particularly enjoyed the vocal performance from 0:57 onwards. Futility starts off in a very catchy way, and at 2:10, I loved the raw energy that emanates from this section.
On Butchered Beyond Recognition, I really liked the transition at 0:39. Finally, the title track Holier Than Thou closes the album on a dark, almost mystical note — an atmosphere that sometimes resembles black metal. This track stands out for its many nuances and its more complex structure. At 3:01, a haunting atmosphere sets in, marking what I consider to be the darkest moment on the record. In my opinion, it is the most mature and best-constructed track on the entire album.