The Reunion That Roars but Doesn’t Quite Reignite
There’s something undeniably thrilling about a band reuniting after years of silence, especially when they’re armed with a sound as ferocious as Spread the Disease. This Canadian metalcore outfit, known for their chaotic, skronk-heavy murder music, has returned with The Darkness. The Dread. The Suffering., an album that promises to expand on their black metal roots. But does it deliver? Personally, I think it’s a mixed bag—a record that roars with intent but falters in its execution.
A Sound That’s Angry but Not Always Inventive
One thing that immediately stands out is the band’s commitment to anger. This album is a relentless assault, blending second-wave black metal frostbite with 2000s metalcore muscle. Tracks like ‘Light Opaque’ and ‘Indoctrinated’ showcase this fusion effectively, with meaty tremolo passages and syncopated chugs that feel both familiar and ferocious. What makes this particularly fascinating is how the band avoids the maximalist, mathy complexity of their earlier work, opting instead for a more straightforward approach.
But here’s the rub: while the individual parts are competent, they rarely transcend their influences. Certain riffs feel like boilerplate black metal, and the juxtaposition with metalcore clichés doesn’t always elevate them. From my perspective, this is where the album stumbles. It’s not enough to be loud and angry; you need moments of genuine innovation to stand out.
Album Flow: A Double-Edged Sword
Spread the Disease does make an effort to break up the monotony with interludes like ‘Intermezzo I’ and ‘Intermezzo II.’ These short, harsh noise and ambient pieces provide a welcome breather from the onslaught. However, the longer runtimes of the main tracks—often exceeding five minutes—can feel tedious. What many people don’t realize is that in an era of short attention spans, even a 30-minute album can drag if the momentum isn’t sustained.
Take ‘The Blight in Their Eyes,’ for example. Its seven-minute runtime includes a sludgy, atmospheric conclusion that’s effective but feels tacked on. If you take a step back and think about it, the band’s attempt to add depth sometimes works against them, diluting the raw energy that’s their strongest suit.
The Missing ‘Oomph’
This raises a deeper question: what’s missing from The Darkness. The Dread. The Suffering.? In my opinion, it’s the considered songwriting that ties everything together. The album has plenty of fun ideas—the blackened tremolo bursts in ‘Summer Wanes,’ the hardcore moves in ‘Gods and Politics’—but they never coalesce into something greater than the sum of their parts.
A detail that I find especially interesting is how the band’s youthful vitriol is still present, but it’s not as sharp or focused as it once was. What this really suggests is that reuniting after years apart isn’t just about recapturing the past; it’s about evolving while staying true to your roots. Spread the Disease seems to have prioritized the former over the latter.
A Nasty Reunion, but Not a Triumphant One
For fans of the band’s early material, this album will undoubtedly scratch an itch. It’s cool to hear them sounding this venomous after so many years. But for newcomers or casual listeners, it might feel like a missed opportunity. The individual performances are strong, and there’s no denying the band’s passion, but the album lacks the cohesion and innovation needed to be truly memorable.
If you’re looking for a nasty, blackened hardcore record to blast at full volume, The Darkness. The Dread. The Suffering. will deliver. But if you’re hoping for a triumphant return that redefines the genre, you might walk away feeling underwhelmed.
Final Thoughts
Spread the Disease’s reunion is a testament to their enduring spirit, but The Darkness. The Dread. The Suffering. falls short of being a masterpiece. It’s a solid effort, but not a groundbreaking one. In a genre that thrives on innovation, merely being loud and angry isn’t enough. Here’s hoping their next release takes more risks—because when Spread the Disease is at their best, they’re unstoppable.
Rating: 2.5/5.0
