There are bands that live to represent their genre with purity and an emulation of something they already see as "perfect"... and there are others who aren't afraid to step out of the norm and re-define that genre in ways they see fit. Some of these groups suffer heavily by biting off more than they can chew. Others have a burning image in their mind and reshape music beautifully. This is the case for DARKRISE, who tout themselves as Death Metal hailing from the high mountains of Switzerland. It's my esteemed opinion that these headbangers aren't giving themselves enough credit. Rather than being your average, run-of-the-mill Death Metal unit with simple chord movements and monotone growls, they come off more as a kind of Progressive Technical Death Metal unit with some really bold tweaks to that Death Metal sound.

DARKRISE was born in 1998 and have produced 5 full-length albums since 2000, evolving in their style while, sadly, losing a few members along the way. In recent years, the band lost 3 of its 5 members, both guitarists and the vocalist, before putting together their newest release. This left many to wonder what would become of this Swiss death squad, until they came out with "Fear, Hate & Corruption", their latest record, wrought with insane lead riffs and mind-numbing polyrhythms that go above and beyond expectations for a post-exodus period.

"Fear, Hate & Corruption" begins with a melodic intro riff and longer tones, throwing off listeners before crashing through a brick wall into "Do Or Die". Guitars by Dario and Nicolas are classically-oriented within the spectrum of Death Metal, skittering about the fretboard with precise arpeggios while having a very wide range of pitches. This, in conduction with lightning-speed drumming by Axel and lower-than-low grinding bass by Wils, creates a musical atmosphere like that of a deathly Dream Theater, something I never thought I'd come to imagine from a Death Metal unit. To top it all off, Thilbaud beats out some loose gutturals that ring with satisfying vocal inflections, adding more flavor to the usual dark drone of most growlers.

The album progresses with increasingly crazier guitar work and faster beats, continuing to surprise me at every turn with their skill, all of which comes out in full force in "You'll Burn For This". It's here that the more polyrhythmic drumming is finally introduced, taking things to a whole new level of instrumentation that I never anticipated. However, things begin to cool down with "Cold", a tune that rolls slower and grow heavier. Though after departing a little from the technicality, things doesn't get boring, but somewhat groovier and surprisingly foot-tappingly rhythmic- something to remind us of the roots of pure Death Metal.

"Fear, Hate & Corruption" retain this simpler, groovier way of things through "Blinded" and "A Solid Plan", only to pick back up into more intricacy with "End Of Our World", which features some of the wildest double-tapping that I've heard in a long time. But what really hits just right, is the bass solo in "Just Before", almost fooling me to believe that Alex Webster joined to reprise his bass solo in CANNIBAL CORPSE's "Hammer Smashed Face". Finally, all of this comes to a final explosion in a blunt message with "Christ Sucks".

I was immensely astonished with the band's musicality, unbelievable guitars, quaking bass, unpredictable drums, and flexible gutturals. My suggestion to the band as they move forward: take this kind of experimentation to the next level. Go further, flaunt it, and make it your greatest strength. DARKRISE have given themselves so much to work with and it's time for them to truly unlock their potential with this evolved style.<