EP REVIEW: Between Ghosts – And The Sky Darkened

AND THE SKY DARKENED hail from the south of Wales, a territorial hotspot for the underground metal scene. Formed in 2015, they released debut EP The Fracture the following year and quickly developed a reputation for their dark, brooding metal and massive riffs. Two lineup changes later and new EP Between Ghosts is now out on all streaming services, the first chance for fans to hear the backline of bassist James O’Donovan and drummer Matt ‘Animal’ Thomas alongside guitarists and vocalists Ryan Lewis and Ollie Hansen.

Opening track Burden Hardest to Bear more features a twin-axe attack so well recognised since metal’s very beginnings, the chorus especially presenting a classic feel straight out of the IRON MAIDEN scrapbook. It’s also very accessible, a song that could easily receive regular airplay on rock radio stations whilst retaining a heaviness that is sometimes lost when bands write and record a song for the airwaves. Turn These Eyes Blind showcases a foreboding intro that kicks in a sludge-laden riff as the whole band comes in. The vocal trade-off from Lewis and Hansen is excellent, evoking thoughts of fellow countrymen BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE during their heyday, whilst the addition of a groovier sound in the second half of the song emphasises the band’s adept nature at giving tracks more than one dimension.

The second half is a bit more chalk and cheese. Lead single The Darkened Await has a curious, alt-rock intro that defies the general feel of the EP by being more upbeat and playful, but it isn’t long before the guitars playing off each other once more a la TRIVIUM and features a real rip-snorter of a solo. The closing title track is the weak link here, though. It starts well; the quietest song on the record, it maintains the melancholic overtones that the rest of the EP carries and, on this occasion, Lewis and Hansen bring their vocals more in line with the likes of ALICE IN CHAINS, broody and mournful. However, it never reaches a crescendo, always teasing but not delivering, which is a disappointment because it feels unfinished and open-ended.

Nevertheless, AND THE SKY DARKENED have consolidated what they were best at well, and Between Ghosts is worth the time of anyone into massive guitar riffs and punchy metal. There’s some serious potential within this Welsh quartet; the next release might see their inner dragons take full flight.

Rating: 8/10

Between Ghosts is out now via self-release. 

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