NARAKA is a Parisian band that was formed in 2019. In 2021 they released their debut album "In Tenebris". Now, almost five years later, the band felt it was time to challenge the world again. The result "Born In Darkness" is currently coming through my speakers and I need to correct an internet assumption first. If you read the Metal Encyclopaedia site they play Melodic Death Metal. Well, that is very narrow, if you ask me. What NARAKA does will have you going from Gothic Rock via Movie Metal up and until the mentioned Melodic Death Metal. I understand that the net is cast wide by these descriptions, but they do fit the bill.

The thing that is most important of all is that whatever musical style the NARAKA is playing at the time, they are doing at least a decent job at it. what I'm trying to say that I like every song that I hear on "Born In Darkness". Whether they do a Gothic Rock song, a Movie Metal tune or play their brand of Melodic Death Metal, everything they do fits. Io know it's not mentioned with the instruments, but the use of keyboards when either needed, appropriate or necessary, does help. In the last category a song like "Something Woke Up" does have that threatening and eerie level you would hope it has. The same goes for the typical Movie Metal tracks "Hellhound" and "Deus Belli". As for the Gothic references, just listen to a song like "Tyrants", and you'll understand where I'm coming from. And those are just examples that stand out to me.

As a whole I feel that NARAKA has made a very decent and solid album that will appeal to a lot of Metal enthusiasts. I also know that not everyone will be able to grasp the wide range of musical styles and atmosphere that come with listening to "Born In Darkness". And however much I am enjoying the album, and certainly appreciate the effort the band has put in making it all sound coherent and acceptable, I feel that they could have done better. The reason I say that I that I just can't shake the feeling that they have held back in their level of excitement and enthusiasm, making "Born In Darkness" sound just that bit too controlled. Whereas it could have been an amazing album if NARAKA would have just let go.