EP REVIEW: The Seventh Circle – Darkness Everywhere

If it were up to DARKNESS EVERYWHERE, they’d probably have you believe they were from Gothenburg, Sweden. Hailing instead from Oakland, California, the nascent three-piece’s sound is so uncannily indebted to that city’s iconic melodic death metal scene that you’ll wonder if they haven’t somehow opened a portal in space and time only to step out some three decades and 5,000 miles later. Of course, when it comes to influential scenes, you could do a lot worse. For DARKNESS EVERYWHERE, the results presented on their debut EP The Seventh Circle make for a rock solid melodeath thrashing. They’re not the first and they won’t be the last, but there’s still plenty to like about this record.

With seven songs spanning less than 18 minutes, The Seventh Circle moves along with a consistent and furious urgency. Admittedly, opener Apocalyptic Nightmares is more of an intro piece than a full song – a brief setting of the scene with ominous strings and epic lead guitar lines – but it’s pretty much full steam ahead from then on in. The self-titled track which follows is vintage Gothenburg, a flurry of barked vocals, harmonised guitars and high-speed drumming. Responsible for much of this is Ben Murray, who handles guitars, drums and vocals on the record. Supported by second guitarist Cameron Stucky and bassist Zack Ohren, the trio conjure a massive, bracing sound which feels far grander than that which you might typically expect from such a relatively small line-up.

Indeed, The Seventh Circle maintains a consistently epic feel from start to finish. Third track The Grand Impact arguably one-ups the intensity of its predecessor for example. Driven along by Murray‘s steady blast beats and double kick work, this one hammers home some of the band’s more modern melodeath influences with a guest vocal appearance from John Henry of US metallers DARKEST HOUR. Next, Lost Dimensions leans full-tilt into a MAIDEN-esque gallop, with plenty more harmonised guitars galore. The later tracks are all solid too, with Reign Of Chaos standing out with an impressive dual guitar solo.

As strong as all this is, it’s fair to say The Seventh Circle sticks pretty exclusively to one lane. A few brief deviations into more mid-paced territory aside, it’s easy for this record to race past its listeners. Without much dynamic variation either, it also starts to wear just a little thin towards its end. These are minor gripes though, ones levelled at a debut record from a band no doubt still finding their feet. This is a perfectly serviceable EP, its ideas executed and produced to an invariably high standard. Taken as a tribute to the iconic fare of bands like AT THE GATES and IN FLAMES, it hits those nails bang on the head. As long as you don’t ask it for much more than that, The Seventh Circle should leave you suitably satiated.

Rating: 7/10

The Seventh Circle is set for release on February 25th via Creator-Destructor Records.

Follow DARKNESS EVERYWHERE on Bandcamp.