Underdark are a band that should be on the lips of everyone who loves brutality and beauty. I forget that they are a hidden gem for many and react with maybe a little too much enthusiasm when someone comments on the quite frankly beautiful long sleeve tee I have depicting the art work of the “With Bruised and Bloodied Feet/Plainsong single from 2019. (It is quite eye-catching).
Underdark get subgenres thrown at them as much as any band in the UK underground (even underground is becoming an overused cliché by now surely?) – Post Black Metal and RABM being the main ones that stick. If you are not familiar with the latter it is an acronym for Red and Anarchist Black Metal. Imagine the antithesis of NSBM – anti fascist, anti capitalist, pro human and animal rights with a big helping of anarcho politics for good measure. Now obviously that label may dissuade some folk from pressing play, especially those of the “keep politics out of metal brigade”. First off I just don’t get that argument – politics have been part of music since the dawn of time, secondly Underdark and their associates Dawn Ray’d have plenty to offer within the textures of their music that you can get lost in if you decide to ignore the message. (It will just leak into your lugholes subliminally anyway).
Back in 2019 vocalist Max left the band and Abi from Derby based anger merchants Yuri stepped in. The first thing the band did was re-record “With Bruised and Bloodied Feet” and backed it with a cover version of Plainsong from The Cure’s classic Disintegration album. This was an absolute belter which I still blast out today. The mix of spoken word, harsh rasped vocals , lilting guitars atop raging darkness set the tone for the full length debut.
“Our Bodies Burned Bright on Re-entry” is the culmination of what Underdark have hinted at with the single release and their split with Antre in 2018. The five tracks are filed with beauty and pain. Abi sounds as though she is on the edge of a nervous breakdown at some points and in the middle of a raging mania in others- teetering on the edge of control but always keeping her voice in check and within the song. The deep throaty demonic noise that spews forth from her larynx in opener “Queres” is un nerving!
Underdark mix the song structure of what is known as post black metal – think acts like Alcest but rather than drift into the gaze world they maintain the brutality throughout with razor sharp riffs and blastbeats. The title track blows through the ears like a hurricane before slowing into a melancholic section with Abi unleashing an almost post hardcore soliloquy before erupting back into blackened madness.
“Coyotes” that follows is delicious mix of orange squeezing BM and all the pastel watercolours of a hopeful dream. In its 6.42 there are chances to bang your fists and head and then to drift and soar like Casper the friendly ghost atop the happy sad guitars.
“With Ashen Hands Around Our Throats” opens with a classic BM style riff but with the wasp in a jar sound transformed by a punky warmth – all the anger is there but without the frost – I blame global warming! It is refreshing to hear proper live drums with so much programmed nonsense happening in the world of extremity at the moment and Dan sways from thunderous blasts to loose limbed splashy chill with ease.
“Skeleton Queen” rounds things off with a lilting riff that brings the album to shore, battered by the maelstrom but ready to fight for rights of working people everywhere. People talk a lot in metal cliches. Bands of brothers and sisters. Call to Arms. United we Stand etc. Well, Underdark mean it maaaaaaan – and their clarion call is one worth listening to.
(9/10 Matt Mason)
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