Imagine my excitement when I learned that my front door is a mere 2 hours away from where this band calls home! I simply can’t wait to hear them do this live, but for now let’s talk about the record.
In 2019, long-time skin-smasher for the venerable Iced Earth, Brent “Deadly” Smedley, while taking a break from his “day job” on the metal scene decided he wanted to build a band from the ground up. After hearing the powerful and diverse vocal talents of Eric Barrios, Out Of Darkness was born.
Their first CD, "Seize The Day," which dropped 3/26/21 on Curtain Call Records, showcases an impressive range of style and talent, from melodic and harmonic to heavy and thrashy, this energetic compilation is simply a blast to consume.
The opening track, “Oh My,” is the first release from the record. Drums, bass, and down-tuned guitar kick you in the face as soon as you hit “play.” A tribute to the world we all experienced in the pandemic of 2020, the song bounces from a haunting melody to guttural growls, just like we all did over the past year+. It musically captures our fear, uncertainty, anticipation, and every twist of emotion, and hurls it out of your speakers at top volume. It’s a kick-ass way to open an album.
Just when you are prepared for an in-your-face experience, they mood abruptly changes to a light and musical 30-second “Through The Light” that transitions smoothly into “I Surrender,” a rock-ballad cover of vocal-virtuoso Celine Deion. A melancholy, melodic track, this one showcases the soaring, imploring vocal capability of Barrios, then builds to a crescendo mosh-pit session, before dropping back for another verse, and building again. With harmonies that evoke thoughts of Freddy Mercury and Queen, the track wraps up with an emotional finish that highlights the vocal flexibility and range that earned Eric the gig.
From there, the title track takes all the emotion from the previous track and spews it back at us. “Seize The Day” kicks you in the face with a heavy guitar/bass riff and machine-gun double kick rhythm. It drops to a pillow-soft verse, builds quickly to a heavy growl, and then back again. The intensity briefly ebbs & flows as it builds to a frantic guitar solo, followed by the mosh-like bridge. Though melodic, this is the heaviest track on the record, and is probably my favorite.
Nearing the end of the album, KNTRL shows another side of the band, with a dynamic, rhythmically interesting cadence. Soaring vocals & deep growls float easily on the machine-gun drums, and heavy guitars laced with harmonic squeals. The song floats gracefully, then beats on you for a minute, and then does it all over again. This track displays expert composition and showcases amazing talent as it toys with your emotions.
“Freedom To Be Free” takes us in a different direction. The acoustic intro slides into a gentle, questioning track, in which we can feel the longing of the song-writer to determine the course of his own life. The anthemic chorus evokes pre-pandemic images of an arena filled with lighters and fists held high as the entire crowd sings along. The song-writer's personal confidence builds as the song progresses and intensity builds. By the end, you can feel the decisive determination in his devotion to his own destiny.
The last song on a record needs to wrap up the whole thing in a bow, and “Think Again” does just that. It’s a driving-tempo rocker that’s heavy and musical. You need, at least once, to listen through this track just for the drums alone. Smedley’s experience and expertise provide an amazing foundation for an excellent hard-rock track. Intricate guitar-work and sing-along powerhouse vocals complete the experience, as the final song on the record comes to an abrupt finish.
Overall, I’m more than a little excited about this first release from Out Of Darkness, and it has little to do with the fact that they are local for me. This CD has become one of my favorites to crank up, and it’s always over far too soon. Give it a listen, and then keep your eye out for the opportunity to see them do this on stage along the East coast throughout 2021. I can’t wait!
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