Oakland, California's (USA) own Melodic Death Metal trio DARKNESS EVERYWHERE is a newcomer to the Metal scene. Formed in 2020, they present their debut EP here titled "The Seventh Circle." The EP contains seven tracks, oddly enough. "Apocalyptic Nightmares" opens the album. It's a one-minute, mood setting instrumental. Solemn strings give way to guitars rich in harmonies as it segues into the title track. The opening riff is just a bit trite and thin. The vocalist as a commanding presence but that guitar and bass section will need thickening up. It thickens in the chorus.

"The Grand Impact" is a short burner, under three minutes in length. The harmonies in the guitar work are what makes this Melodic Death Metal, but the band should work to explore in the riffs more. As they are, they are too predictable. "Lost Dimensions" begins with a faster pace of heavy bass work to go along with the guitar harmonies. Unfortunately, the guitar work here is just too simple...to elementary. The bass work is pretty solid, as is the drums and vocals. "Reign of Chaos" features more predicable riffing but earnest vocals. The leads are nice, but just when the song gets going, it ends too soon.

"Survival of the Sun" features a bit more melody in the beginning, something that the band would do well to build on. In this genre, I typically find that newer bands are good at the Death Metal side, but not so good building memorable melodies. The title track closes the album. It plows away for several bars before the vocals come in. Though the song has an infectious energy, it falls mostly flat. Overall, though the artwork is very pleasing, the songs are just too short to convey anything other than a fledgling band trying their hand at a now oversaturated genre of music. They have talent but need to work on exploring the genre rather than resting on old formulas and riffs that have already been done a thousand times. I am not suggesting that the band work cleans vocals into their sound, but it might help to provide some diversity in their sound.