Surrey tech-punks Darko have carved out an intricate and fiery EP in Sea of Trees: melding the technicality and grooves of heavy metal with the ferocity of hardcore and the melodies of pop-punk, they’ve created a catchy and intense collection of songs.
Darko’s instrumental chops are not to be disputed, and anyone with an ear and taste for frenetic displays of skill will find much to love here. When Darko marries this impressive dexterity with well-crafted rhythms and melodies, the results are great – highlights include the math-rocky middle-eight on Canthus Viewpoints – but sometimes the ever-present technicality obscures the songs’ energy. Tracks like Hanging off a Memory excel in that they blend controlled dashes of squid-fingers, a catchy chorus and gritty hardcore confidently and forcefully.
The true gem of this EP, however, is closer and lead single Seaward. Darko display the full force of their fierce skill throughout, yet still allow the track room to throw its shoulders around as multiple vocalists deftly trade screams across the churning and thrashing grooves.
Lyrically, vocalist Dan Smith’s writing is not to be overlooked – although often hard to pick out from the ferocious mass, they contain some powerful and mature metaphors that set the band apart from their contemporaries. Simple, yet poetic, lines like “The hands of the clock move in for the kill” (Atlas to Atlantis) will doubtless be screamed back into Smith’s face soon. However, it is EP standout Seaward that takes the biscuit in this category too – its extended metaphor of a bottled ship, interlaced seamlessly with images of sea-storms and the old adage of glass houses demonstrates that the band’s deft abilities extend far beyond their fretboards and drum skins.
-Sam Birkett (Twitter)
This 5 track EP and the narrative in its concept will be followed up with a full album in 2015. With a rabid reception on their extensive European touring stints, this release sees them turning their attention to home to see what the UK has in store for them.
Watch their Studio Preview of ‘Seaward’:
Tour Dates:
Sunday 21st September – Guild Hall, Gloucester (w/ A Wilhelm Scream)
Tuesday 23rd September – Sin City, Swansea (w/ A Wilhelm Scream)
Saturday 27th September – Funtime Festival, Aarschot -Belgium
Darko are:
Dan Smith – Vocals
Rob Piper – Guitar/Vocals
Chris Brown – Guitar/Vocals
Karl Sursham – Bass
Andy Borg – Drums
Connect with Darko:
http://www.lockjawrecords.co.
http://www.twitter.com/
http://www.facebook.com/
http://www.darkoband.co.uk
http://www.twitter.com/darko_
http://www.youtube.com/
