Darkest Era (NI) | ‘The Oaks Sessions’

‘The Oaks Sessions’, titled after the Fermanagh studio where it was recorded, is the third release from Darkest Era (counting their debut under the Nemesis moniker), and in a microcosmic way, it’s representative of the usual third full album release from much larger and longer lived bands.

What the band have put out here is a trio of some of the most mature sounding tracks I’ve ever heard from an Irish metal band, particularly a band who have yet to record an album proper.

There may only be 3 tracks on offer here, but they last for an impressive 22 minutes, without at any point feeling overwrought or drawn out. “Epic” is a word that’s bandied about far too much these days, but when applied to metal, it’s precisely what Darkest Era are.

Epic as hell in song structure, musical planning, and particularly in the lyrics. This is the type of music to listen to on headphones while wandering alone though the mountains of Ireland, reflecting in solitude.

After a pressing plant foul-up, the demo has been repackaged in a pro digipack format, with a fantastic layout which perfectly encapsulates the atmosphere of the music. It’s well thought out – plenty of muted greens throughout to give that absolute Irish wilderness feel; even the spine of the case has been coloured to match.

The whole package contrasts starkly with the back cover which is entirely black and white with a photograph of a suitably intense and windswept band standing on the aforementioned Irish mountain.

The cover art, interior art and overall design is awesome too. Ireland’s own Elaine Cooney has produced a subtly flowing rendition of the horned god Cernunnos as one with the oak tree, surrounded by serpents to represent the primeval spirit that permeates the music and is a nod to the ancestry woven into the Irish people. It’s certainly a fitting representation for three of the most stirring tracks the band have produced to date.

Some pre-judging of the CD is inevitable here though, as has happened in the past, but on this release most of all the style of the music is pure Primordial. It’s a hard influence to avoid, particularly when playing this kind of metal, and this time round Darkest Era have, like Primordial, eschewed hooks and choruses in favour of atmosphere and narrative.

It’s something the band will need to work on in order to sound more like themselves rather than a derivative. As it is, the 3 tracks are of a standard Primordial themselves would be happy with – the sense of musical maturity just shines through here. The songs are rousing and captivating, and each part is essential to the whole – there’s nothing superfluous at all.

In a way, ‘An Ancient Fire Burns’ and ’To Face The Black Tide’ are almost two halves of the one song – there’s a carefully planned continuity here that really adds to the sense of a full, planned media package rather than just a simple music demo with songs on it.

This is presumably why ‘Children Of The Gods’, from the ‘Nemesis’ demo, is listed as a bonus track – it’s an out and out rocker of a track, and a live staple, but it sits clearly apart from the first two tracks which tie in to the layout of the demo. With the CD limited to 250 and lots of overseas interest already, it’s going to go fast, so drop them a line - this comes thoroughly recommended.

Dónal McBrien ::: 23/05/10