While my shortlist of noteworthy albums in 2024 continues to grow, my own reviewing assignments have thus far underwhelmed. Desperate times call for desperate blind leaps into the promo sump to hopefully reel in an underground gem. In this case the band in question is Canada’s Duskwalker, set to release third LP Underground Forever. First impressions from the cheesy, retro-inspired artwork is Duskwalker must revel in ’80s thrash worship, with perhaps a dose of horror movie shtick and crossover edge. Although Duskwalker certainly draw inspiration from metal’s storied past, the end result is something a little less straightforward to pigeonhole. Classic thrash vibes bleed through the band’s energetic and aggressive delivery, accompanied by an array of other styles and influences, from snippets of the blackened thrash fury and crunch of Skeletonwitch and Necropanther, to chunkier death and groove metal forays, and whiffs of Carcass. The sound is bright, modern, and crunchy, despite the old school flavors. But does this unsung, talented quartet have the songwriting chops to match their exuberance and instrumental talents?
A good opener is often key to setting an album’s momentum and platform to launch from. The bending, swaggering grooves and chunky death and groove metal crunch of “Crippled at the Core” does a serviceable job in this regard. From here Duskwalker forge ahead with hard rocking attitude and feisty gallops, meshing the aggressively punchy, with fun, rough-and-tumble vibes. “Never Going Back” unleashes a rapid-fire old school thrash attack, strengthened by a strong set of riffs and hooks, Pantera-esque grooves are coupled with blackened and death elements, adding an urgent, extreme bite to proceedings. The title track plays into Duskwalker’s mode of not taking themselves too seriously, combining classic ’80s metal guitar licks, with sing-along vocal hooks, anthemic thrash, and black n’ roll grooves. After a grinding, slow build opening, “Posing Corpses” eventually gets going and cranks out some urgent blackened thrash gallops, guitar acrobatics, and rugged grooves.
The heaving trample of “City on a Cemetery” channels Duskwalker’s death and groove-based tendencies, riding extra beefy riffs, fun dual vocal tradeoffs, and quality lead work. Inevitably there are elements of Duskwalker’s diverse sound that do not gel as well as others, leading to inconsistent and clunkier moments, balancing out Underground Forever’s more endearing qualities. The sample-laden, largely mid-paced thump of “Artillery Communion” fails to engage or rise to any great heights. Similarly, “Vanquisher” features a darker, tone and nice leads, but tends to drag and chug along without any real purpose or impact. Duskwalker right things towards the backend, ending with the death-doom-driven march of the awesomely titled, “Inhaling the Dust of Bones.” At 47 minutes Underground Forever never loses the plot, but hits a few lulls, resulting in an album that feels as though it runs a tad long. Several songs could use a slight trim to tighten up the final package.
Musically, Duskwalker is an accomplished band and the various old school and contemporary influences color sprightly performances. John Robinson clearly enjoys his work, wielding his axe with flair and appreciation of metal’s storied past. The album’s tone is a little uneven musically, but Robinson does his best to enliven things with beefy, chugging riffs, slashing solos, and groovy swagger, drawing from a well of thrash, death, black, trad, and hard rock influences. The rhythm section holds its own, with John Neadow’s bass given room to shake in the mix. Duskwalker tend to thrill more at higher speeds, but the varied territory they explore makes for a fun, if uneven ride. Meanwhile, Joey Scaringi’s versatile vocals switch from deathly bellows to thrashier barks and blackened screams, with reasonable spark and effectiveness.
Production-wise, Underground Forever features a clean, crisp profile that generally fits their sound, though it could benefit from a dirtier, less polished sound. Meanwhile, the loud master strips away breathing space, detracting from the more appealing sonic elements at play. Gripes aside, Underground Forever certainly has its high points and enjoyable moments. It’s a fun, groovy listen, full of infectious energy and some killer songs. Unfortunately, the package does not quite form something more formidable and noteworthy. Regardless, I have enjoyed my time with Underground Forever and if Duskwalker can refine their songwriting and hone their strengths, better things may be in store for future offerings.
Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Black Lion Records
Websites: duskwalkerblacklion.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/DuskwalkerOfficial
Releases Worldwide: July 26th, 2024
The post Duskwalker – Underground Forever Review appeared first on Angry Metal Guy.
