The Dark - Demons 7' (2018)

Debut vinyl release from this Los Angeles-based hardcore punk band. The Dark released 2 demo cassettes that received a lot of praise via word of mouth, but remained fairly obscure and hard to find because of the band's lack of internet presence. I personally thought a proper vinyl release was overdue, and interestingly, the insert says these 4 songs were recorded back in 2016. Well, it was worth the wait. The Dark seem heavily influenced by mid-80s Japanese punk, where they straddle raw punk sounds of Execute or Deadless Muss and incorporate glam-influenced, chugga chugga guitar stylings a la Randy Uchida. The main quality I deduced from the lo-fi sound of The Dark's previous tapes was an eerie, ominous atmosphere. With a punchier, clearer recording on this 7", The Dark still manage to maintain a sense of....well "dark". Particularly the vocals, which are sung in English, sound a lot like early Japanese punk and because of the heavy effects, really provide a creepy, desperate emotion over the powerful riffs behind them. This kills.

Audio from this video was ripped from my personal copy of the 7".

0:00 Numb
1:51 Demons
4:38 Dragged To Hell
6:55 Nightmare

[outliarpunx]

was this bit in my brains that made me look longer at the picture and made me listen thru it. wow. the distance of sound and image gives me chills.

[JaHzon]

Met the singer when they opened up for Riistetyt in DTLA. Cool ass cat. Dope ass band.

[tharkanzox]

Saw these guys last night. They were great and some of the blazing eye cats were in the crowd stirring shit up- great band

[anfrankogezamartincic]

This makes me FEEL like it's 1984 again, i'm reading MAXIMUM ROCK & ROLL and ordering tapes and 7" by mail

[daftmarzo]

This is some really refreshing hardcore punk!

[joelpocalips]

First track sounds like he's eating something really really good into a mic with Reverb and delay

[vv-yzqu]

gonna see these guys tonight super stoked

[NoDeal]

thought this band called it quits, cool to see that was false! sounds awesome

[conjoinedxtwin]

They’re from LA? How have I been going to shows in LA for years and never seen them on a show?

[BIGxBOSSxx]

Anyone know some other bands that use reverb like this on vocals? I know a lot of Japanese punk bands that do it. It sounds fucking sick

[leandroleon]

Se parece mucho a The Ace of spades...

[jodybanks]

Dark ninjas would’ve been a cool name too

[Waachiye]

This is real good shit, but c’mon let’s be honest. It virtually has *nothin’* on those Japanese bands you mentioned.

[SubParSuperlativ]

Oh great, spend half this morning googling for this record. I officially hate that band name!