So Sedated, So Secure holds promise, its ambitions indicating a penchant for gruff death and thrash balanced by melodic turns and solos.
Darkest Hour don't always do their ambitions justice, though. The tones, production, and vocals -- a wonderful evil sneer fighting a throaty growl -- are all right-on, but their simple guitar riffs, which stylistically may have peaked with
Exodus in the late '80s, are what hangs them up. The album is solidly written, though, and new melodic takes on death metal are always welcome. No one is expecting the next
Carcass, but if
Darkest Hour upped the technical ante some, they could definitely enter the big leagues. ~ Matthew Kantor