The Resurrection  (Self Released)

 This work is the first release of this NYC based band and I must say they did a good job… The music this sick quartet delivers at this Ep debut could be compared slightly with the latest work from their citymates of Agnosis, which is not strange at all; the band primal formation included Andrew Jude Riotto on bass and Austin Lunn on guitars, both members of the mentioned band… Well, the music of After Dark could be labelled, if I had to, as Stoner/Sludge Metal with horror inspired lyrics, unlike the most of the Stoner or Sludge Metal bands the Doom Metal hints are here almost imperceptible, although the Black Sabbath influences are completely undeniable. After Dark explores the most extreme and aggressive side of the dense and low music, with violent, yet dense riffing, somewhere between the sound of Corrosion Of Conformity and Black Label Society but darker and with a sick and twisted feeling. The aggressiveness of the band is clearly showed at the first track “God Of The New Flesh”, song that even includes some Slayer inspired, South Of Heaven like sounding riffing. But the ferociousness is not relegated to the first track; the violent, low riffs are accurately mixed, during the entire disc, with intense doses of groove, where the bass work delivers intensity and profundity accompanied by a well executed and highly varied drum work… The vocals of Alex Dementia are one of the obscurest and more aggressive elements of the entire Ep mixing mid toned, ripping growls with some occasional, potent clean vocalizations resulting into an interesting mix of violence and groovy Hard Rock feeling, just listen to the third track “Suspiria” and will know what I’m talking about… The whole production is completely professional, with a strong, solid sound and a simple but pretty nice artwork. “The Resurrection” is a solid debut, full of good ideas, heaviness, groove and tons of attitude… definitely a good work. (AP)