DARKEST ERA, based in Belfast, UK, started out in 2005 in just the writing stage. DARKEST ERA is a new, but well known Celtic Metal band that has quickly evolved into legendary status. DARKEST ERA just released their new eight track album "Severance" which has a mythological theme to it. The music on "Severance" has a classic medieval feel to it, and each of the eight songs unfold telling their historic tales with speed, and success!

There is a close feel to IRON MAIDEN that you get when listening to "Severance" by DARKEST ERA! But not as close as many "diehard" IRON MAIDEN fans would like, but that is a very good comparison on a positive level! Without a doubt the speed is there, and the guitars are shredding, which is mostly where the similarities lie, within the instruments themselves.

There is also a new aged pure Rock style of sound here in "Severance" that is hard for me to pinpoint, others liken the sound to be sort of like THIN LIZZY, I guess when it comes to the vocals, Krum does sound a lot like Phil Lynott! It is the instrumental Rock sound that I find rather difficult to pinpoint though, but I honestly think that it is a good thing that DARKEST ERA has a certain new age Rock sound that cannot be attuned to any other band that I can come up with! Way to go!

The vocals are very low pitched for this style of music, and it is really cool that way because it helps to add that story driven feel to the songs, which gives the listener more of a level listening experience instead of the energetic, yet forced typical screaming that you usually get in your average speedy Metal release.

Another interesting fact in my review is that my friend Lisa Howe (a great drummer from BIG GUNS) and several other side projects, did some work helping to record "Severance" by DARKEST ERA, and the bassist Daniel O'Toole is also from the band BIG GUNS!

I love seeing musicians in action, it is all about trial and error when it comes to recording new music, and I have to say that "Severance" by DARKEST ERA is a success, I did not find many errors as I listened to the entire album. If I had to complain about anything it would have to be that although I love the tempo of slower tunes, on a powerful Celtic Metal release with only eight tracks, I would have liked to hear a few more songs on the heavier side!

Other than that "Severance" is a very solid release by DARKEST ERA! This is a release to be very proud of, DARKEST ERA is a very good band with a solid foundation. They are well underway into the mix of new and exciting Rock/Metal bands, and to see them grow even further beyond the unique and high quality sound that they are already producing is very exciting to say the least! "Severance" by DARKEST ERA gets a mythological seven out of ten!