Darko
Canvas
Lockjaw Records
Hailing from Surrey but with a sound that could easily be from mid west America, Darko are not your average post hardcore band by a long shot. Epic instrumental opener Grey Havens is one of the best post rock tracks we’ve heard this year and it’s just an introduction song! It segues into urgent old school AFI style riffing and the full on blast of Dared To Dream which infuses math rock into the potent mix to stunning effect. We told you Darko were not your average band and this isn’t your average release. Title track Canvas is full on mathcore shot through with a jangly refrain, gang shouts and fun hand claps. Darko are a band who defy genre at every turn and keep you on your toes with bags of ear candy and hell yeah moments. It’s a dizzying sound and if you are the kind of listener who loved the recent album by The Callous Daoboys or you’re maybe a Protest The Hero fan, then there’s a lot for you here. Vocally this album is excellent with all members taking on duties in terms of harmonies and gang shouts and presumably some leads because there’s a lot of different vocal flavours alongside Tom West’s early Davey Havok style higher register punk vocal. Indeed on the suitably titled, Hectic the baby and the bathwater are out and we’re into full hardcore metal territory for a brief time with gutturals and deathly riffing because, well why not? It’s over in a second and we’re into mid west emo turf for Goodbye Bastards. Closer AUX III fully embraces it’s mathy post hardcore brew and would sound equally as at home at ArcTanGent as it would at Slamdunk Festival and that’s a skill very few bands have. If you yearn for a true alternative sound-a-like outfits and uninspired identikit core bands then Darko could be the next best band in your playlist.
Review by George Miller