Customer Reviews

Darkest Day

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you're reading this,than most likely you are an old fan. And I got great news for you. This belongs right beside "The End Complete" and "Cause Of Death". Right from the opener and throughout this is the Obits in all their glory. Crunchy rhythm guitar clanging away, drums galloping along and of course the voice of John Tardy just the way you remembered it from Tampa Florida's glory days. In these days with the Sweden sound dominating the death metal scene its great to remember the late 80's early 90's period. And this Obituary's Darkest Days is right on and puts you in that time capsule. Obituary never put out that many albums so this is another fine treat and addition to their catalog. Anybody intrested in this band can start right here and work your way backwards and enjoy it all classic death, by one of the originators of the genre.

There is always a problem when a band takes the [...] comments of supposed fans seriously, it sometimes ends up screwing up the product. Both "Frozen in Time" and "Xecutioner's Return" were more than decent efforts, especially the latter which gave that band a new guitarist who added another (welcome) dimension to the band. Apparently, some fans didn't like Ralph Santolla's guitar musings either on the album or in concert.

We know find ourselves with "Darker Days" an album that chugs along endlessly with maybe one or two decent solos pushed into the background. The band seems to actively be channeling such duds as "World Demise" or the even more pitiful "Back from the Dead". The songs are played at this kind of hardcore-meets-alternative-rock pace without any catchy hooks or solos or even dirge parts that this band was know for a la "Cause of Death" or "Slowly We Rot". You listen to a song that sounds like it's been playing for ten minutes and realize the track is only three. The only decent songs are the first track and maybe 'This Life' as well as some of the tracks that were already previously included in the "Left to Die" EP -so those don't really count. Really, I'm missing the constant mid-paced tempos with a slow dirge part here or there with an awesome solo (hint: there are no tracks on the "Evil Ways" level here.)

A lame product from a band that could better. Let Ralph Santolla be Ralph Santolla and concentrate on making well-written-to-the-point songs.

Obituary has yet again, shocked me with another great album! First of all, I'd like to say that I love the fact that they have released so much material over the past few years [Xecutioner's Return, Left To Die ep, Tardy Brothers, Darkest Day]. I have all the Obituary albums and I can honestly say I love every one. This one included. People wonder how the new album sounds? It's Obituary. nothing more. nothing less.

First of all, the sound:
Recorded at their own Redneck Studios, Obituary has improved their sound since their last album. The guitars are more crunchy, almost of a 'modern' World Demise-esque tone. John's vocals on this album are of course amazing. To me, one of the most consistent death metal vocalists. The album seems to have a small amount of vocals, but when they kick in, there's no mistaking who it is. Ralph Santolla's leads on this album are the most creative I've ever heard him play. Extremely complex, extremely fast, extremely tasty. The drums on the album are my favorite part. Donald's kick drum and his toms sound similar to the Cause of Death [Scott Burns' infamous drum sound] sound. Overall, very well produced and mixed.

The tracks:
Some classic Obituary style riffing, some that are nauseatingly fast/brutal for them. Also on this record are some of the heaviest riffs I've heard them put out since "Dying" off of Cause of Death. Towards the middle/end of Payback is an excellent example of this as well as all of Outside My Head. List Of Dead, the opening track is a major kick in the testicles. Totally brutal, and crushing throughout. Your Darkest Day stood out to me as well, while being slow and ominous reminiscent of Slowly We Rot. Violent Dreams is my personal favorite because it's extremely thrashing death metal, that sounds straight off of Slowly We Rot. Of course, you also get Forces Realign and Left To Die from their last EP [both goodies!]

Overall, an extremely solid Obituary album. I recommend for any classic death metal head, or anyone interested in finding out what the word "HEAVY" means.

What can you say about Obituary? Just one of the classic brutal Florida death metal bands that have been at it for 20+ years. They don't re-invent the wheel but deliver the same classic Death Metal sound on their albums, and Darkest Day is no different. Actually, the band here seems like more of a return to their End Complete days; the tempos here are a little slower than their last couple albums. However there's a good mix of slower thrash-fests songs and a few blistering blast beats songs, sure to satisfy death metal fans regardless of whether you're jumping on the "hyper blast" or "speed" bandwagon or like the traditional mid-paced sound. The biggest change in the last few years is the new guitar player, Ralph Santolla. His soloing is a little more bright and fast than Allen West's playing was, but I think it fits in well with the band regardless. It's turned Obituary's solos more into a shredding-type band than what it used to be, which was slow drawn out "haunting" type solos. The rhythm and drumming are top notch as always, and John Tardy sounds just as evil as he ever has.

The first ten seconds of opening track List Of Dead, created an alarming look on my face because of the miserable sound quality, but it soon becomes apparent that it was a subtle joke to mislead the listener. When the song exposed itself fully, it proves to be one of the best Obituary compositions ever created. Great up-tempo vibe, fine breaks, no less than four virtuoso guitar solos from Ralph Santolla and the lovely grunt of John Tardy on top of that as icing on the cake. After listening to this fantastic song it feels like the truck that was showcased on the cover of the Tardy Brothers album has run over you a couple of times!. After this song the mid-tempo Blood To Give (with a nice acceleration in the middle part) has to create a disappointing feeling, but that has everything to do with the high quality level of the opening track than with Blood To Give itself, because there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

As always, the buzz saw Obituary tone and simplistic, chugging riffs are there. Everyone's favorite fill-in Ralph Santolla brings his viscous, fluid leads to the mix on songs such as Outside My Head, which hold true to the Obituary back catalogue. Later on, in the midst of a six-song slow kick, the title track comes in with its unmistakably old-school intro, and tremolo bar dive bombs abound. John Tardy once again utilizes his voice as a musical accompaniment to the guitar riffs, his vocal lines stalking them like the unholy undead. You also get the groovy Payback, the slow Your Darkest Day and the faster tracks This Life and (especially) Violent Dreams! I was already quite pleased with the "solo-album" from the Tardy brothers, but I must honestly say that Darkest Day was way better. Obituary once more proves why I rate them among the best bands in the death metal scene. Without a doubt this is a candidate for the best death metal album ever released in the past 10 years. Another solid release all Obit fans and death metal fans should get.

this cd has some of the best obituary has to offer minus allen west(still missed)but this cd seam better than xecutioners return to me,more focused and the added influence of new guy seams directed to blend in their signature sound better.they definetly took a slight variation to the standard writting style and sound for the ovious reason of staying fresh after all i loved the end complete and their return frozen in time were like twinsor part 1 &2 but you don't want every cd from them to resemble each other that closely.this one definetly changes the mold a bit but in a easliy consumed way not drastic manner.

Obituary, along with Morbid Angel, Death and Diecide form the nucleus of death metal as the world knows it, Florida and especially the Tampa area being a breeding ground for death metal like the Bay Area was for thrash. Must be the humidity or something, but these outfits all have that eerie lost in the swamp foreboding feel to them.
While Morbid Angel is the rightful leader of death metal, simply because their music is so weird and wonderful, not to mention heavier than a freight train full of black holes, Obituary represent a more streamlined approach to their death metal. Wisely adhering to the adage "if it ain't broke don't fix it", the Tardy brothers have honed a sound that recalls the heaviest riffage in rock history, primarily "Master Of Reality" era Black Sabbath and maybe a tad bit of stoner rock thrown in for good measure.
"Darkest Day", the most recent release, is a better produced CD than earlier efforts, the guitars brighter and lead work much improved. Plus, tempos are sped up, giving Obituary a little more stylistic freedom. But even with those changes, it's still vintage Obituary - John Tardy's yelping grunts at the front, pummeling drums and the trademark heavy guitar work that stings with great lead work and some of the heaviest rhythm tones you'll hear from anybody. This is death metal that can appeal to Sabbath fans who feel a bit leery of death metal, and a sound that really serves as an important link between the heavy rock of the early seventies and the intensity of death metal, with nary a hint of metalcore or deathcore, a huge plus in this reviewer's opinion. Metalcore and deathcore have become so abrasive and generic that any chance of a hook or great riff emerging from the chaos is all but zero. Metal fans wanting their metal heavier but not just an exercise in brutal noise are best advised to check out death metal, where licks and hooks still live under the grunting vocals. Obituary and Morbid Angel are the best places to start.

More of the same death metal grooves from those who "dont care what they say"
I love it, if you love Obituary; so will you, simple.

This is a great album, better than the last one by a margin. A bit more experimental than before. I hope they keep it up and experiment a bit more on their next album.

from beginning to end this album crushes your skull, sonically. I was extremely surprised at how awesome this album was. It's that same Obituary sound, but with the quality production it always deserved. The riffs and the drumming pummel you like never before. And of course John is there pouring his guts into it as always. Can't wait to see them on this tour.

Obituary knows how to rock. these guys are categorized as "death metal". they are a mid-paced death metal band though, in the vein of Jungle Rot and Death. Ralph Santolla (ex Iced Earth and ex Deicide) is in excellent form on this album. time will tell if he stays. some of the songs have a bouncy feel to them, for example "Lost Inside" is one of them. Obituary is an excellent band. they have a bright future with Candlelight.