The album comes flying out of the traps at breakneck speed with the opening 3 tracks ‘Devil’s Night’, ‘Killing Time’ and ‘The Hunt’, assaulting your aural sensibilities.

The drums are well to the fore and are mercilessly pounded by Randy Mason and really propel these songs forward.

The songs do sound kind of alike and a bit one dimensional. Not that they are a bad listen though, the pure energy of the band really grabs your attention and holds it.

By the fourth song, ‘1818′, the band seems to relax and decides to branch out a bit and show what they can really do.

A short intro and bang the song explodes, this is not the same formulaic thrash that preceded it. This is much more interesting and easier on the ears. There are the same impressive pounding drums and frenetic guitar, but Mason Eaton’s impressive vocals really stand out.

‘Sirens Call’ is a slower song that kicks off with a really catchy riff that nags away at you throughout, ‘From The Depths’ and ‘Moonlight’ carry things on in the same vein: the changes of tempo in ‘Moonlight’ really make the song and again Mason‘s vocals are very much to the fore.

The last 4 track are probably the best on the album and provide a fitting climax. ‘Funeral’ is a good solid pop punk romp, then ‘Empty Glass’ takes us off in a new direction. The melancholy and despair are palpable in the opening of this track which features just vocals and piano, before the familiar drum sound jump starts the rest of the song and then fading out with the piano again. One of the standout songs on the album.

‘Maniac’ and closing song ‘Curse’ are yet more highly enjoyable thrashes with probably more than a nod to The Misfits whose presence can be felt all over this album.

A respectable first album from Darker Days that will inevitably invite comparisons with The Misfits. Some may feel that it is limited musically, but there is enough on show to suggest that the band are progressing and that any subsequent albums may be more varied musically.

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