Four decades in the trenches of thrash metal is
no small feat, and Darkness return to
celebrate exactly that with “The Death Squad Chronicles”. Formed in Essen in
1984, the band has always stood as one of the underground champions of the
German scene, moving alongside names like Kreator,
Sodom and Destruction.
Their debut “Death Squad” in 1987 quickly earned cult status, while follow-up
“Defenders Of Justice” cemented their reputation as a band with relentless
drive and a fierce sense of identity. Though the decades brought line-up
changes and pauses, Darkness never truly
disappeared, and this new chapter is a thunderous reminder of their legacy.
Produced
and mixed by Cornelius Rambadt and mastered
by Dennis Köhne, the album reworks some of
the band’s earliest milestones with modern power, pulls hidden demo material
from the vaults, and introduces two completely new songs. It’s a blend of past
and present, crafted with the precision of musicians who know thrash inside
out.
The brand
new songs “Proud Pariah” and “Last Round Is On Us” prove that Darkness are not simply reliving their past but
moving forward with undiminished fire. These tracks sit comfortably alongside
the re-recorded classics, giving the album its freshness and energy.
A special
mention goes to “Death Squad 2025”, which brings together an army of guests
from the global thrash and extreme metal community. It’s less a single and more
a full-scale thrash party, uniting multiple generations around the sound that
started in the Ruhr Valley back in the mid-80s.
“The Death
Squad Chronicles” is more than just a nostalgic look back. It’s a heavy strike
of German thrash with teeth bared, riffs sharpened, and adrenaline still
pumping. For fans old and new, it’s a reminder that Darkness
remains an uncompromising force after 40 years. This anniversary release
is one of the year’s essential thrash offerings.
Score: 8.3
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