Dark Horse
Sick of The Living, High on Death
Independent
Out Now
Review by Derek J. Huckel
Four piece Dark Horse with Sick of The Living, High on Death have released an album that’s an assault to the senses with a dozen rampant pummelling tunes that barely let up. They contain screamo vocals, masses of cool crusty meaty riffs, and rhythm that contain glimpses of colour within their darkness.
Citing bands such as Napalm Death, Exploited, Mindsnare, Entombed, and Bolt Thrower as influences who can be picked here and there throughout this album but essentially this band has created an amalgam of these into their own beast. Playing live I’ve seen them pull off cover The Nightmare Continues by Discharge, another of their touchstones, which would do they band proud.
At War With Everything is relentless with some cool beat changes, track 6, Bitterness, is a great piece of grind with some cool drum pieces – reminding me in places of World Eater by Bolt Thrower. No One There kicks off with a cool dialogue on the ‘things that matter… creativity and the human… refusing to submit‘, then the pedal hits the metal and a neat breakdown at the end caps it off nicely. You get the picture. Highlights for me were track 5, Welcome To Your Homicide, and 8, This Means War (Again).
These guys have a pretty fierce work ethic. So far they’ve played many gigs around town as well as overseas, like the Obscene Extreme Festival and club shows throughout German, Poland, and Canada.
Dark Horse pull off well with Sick of The Living, High on Death rhythm intertwined with their slamming metal hardcore, not a feat many bands of this ilk seem to conquer. I saw them step in last minute as a support to Poison Idea last year and, like this album, they were most worthy!
