After placing 6th in the Canada’s Hardrock Rising, Darker Still performed at the Hardrock Cafe in Toronto. The band’s song “I Had It All” placed in the semifinals of International Songwriting Competition for best rock song. They were also in an issue of Relix Magazine and feature on the magazine’s CD alongside artists such as Tame Impala. Darker Still has opened for Zeus and for Jeff Martin and have also been a featured artist on The Music Box, as requested by fans. The band’s new self-titled EP “Darker Still” is scheduled for worldwide release on November 15th.
Darker Still just kind of snuck out of Barrie (ON), from between the piles of mediocre-to-bad music being forced at us these days. Well, they will wrap their big sounds around your head and have you believing that there is still a chance for a new classic rock-type sound revival.
From the first track, all the way through I was blown away by just how tight this band is. This is one group that obviously recognizes respects and acknowledges their influences, but doesn’t attempt to copy them. Instead they pick up where these groups left off and carry on the tradition of great sounding rock and roll with an edge.
The musicianship, vocals, production values and sound on this EP are tremendous, especially considering this is a small unit, consisting of core members: Tony Bertucci (Vocals), Patrick Lockman (Guitar) and Quinn Lockman (Bass).
No doubt whoever was behind the boards, has the kind of experience and professionalism that really helped make this recording the fantastic, solid, straight ahead rock n’ roll masterwork it is. This is just a great rock EP that blends in different styles from bluesy to southern rock to soaring guitar. It is tailor-made for blasting to a packed arena.
Overall I really like the style that Darker Still brings to the table, and how all of their songs are not a cookie cutter mold between each other. Each song has its own dynamics, its own drive, and its own unique style that makes putting the entire EP on shuffle the perfect set for any rocking musical scenario.
You can kick off proceedings with the harmony-filled rocker “Never-Too-Late”, and then switch to the epic, acoustic-driven slow-burner, “Could There Be”, which flaunts sweeping strings knitted behind biting guitar lines.
If you dig the raw sound of the blues blended with a psychedelic-induced guitar crunch, then “I Had It All”, is the perfect track. My personal favorite has to be the electrifying drive of “A Time To Shine”. This song encapsulates all the qualities Darker Still possesses – a solid bass and drum rhythm, superbly soaring and melodic vocals, edgy guitar riffs, and a fleshed-out, wall-to-wall arrangement.
Of course you still have the finger picking guitar soundscape of “Sunlight Smile” and the raucous, unbridled drive of “Suicidal Journey”, which unleashes all the vocal and harmonic power this band loaded into its reserve of artistic armaments. Darker Still’s chemistry is impeccable, and their interplay is effortless throughout the EP.
They are able to turn their talents loose and rock as hard, or as soft, as they want. It’s an effective balance, making this a diverse and impactful recording.
OFFICIAL LINKS: REVERBNATION – FACEBOOK – TWITTER
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