Metal maniacs, rejoice! I am proud to present to you: DARK STATION; independently unsigned, hailing from Californian grounds - performing Hard Rock/Nu-Metal/Metalcore, on their debut album entitled: "Down In The Dark" (released 25th of October 2019).

Since formation in 2008; the quintet in question have only this here debut album in their discography so far entitled: "Down In The Dark", 11 tracks ranging at around 32:13 - DARK STATION arrange an intricately designed formula of heavy-hitting Hard Rock developments. "Ryse" begins the record; conveying amplified adrenaline, boistrously bouncy grooves and crunchy instrumentation that showcases progressively technical ultilizations. Vehemently supplying unique versatility, synthesized tempos & quintessential virtuosity - implementing a healthy dose of potent vibrancy & snappy quirks that manifest meticulous ramifications. Flamboyantly crafting a blistering barrage of frenzied executions, hardened hymns & an adroit attribute of chunky blends while revolved around a borderline foundation of harmonic melodies.

Consisting of Nathan Spades on vocals; the frontman demonstrates a fundamental contrast of clean, high-pitched lungs of rawly rough snarls & throaty raspiness. "Heroes" embellishes on experimental complexity; distinctively detailed into a dynamically dextrous slab of organic substance, nimble rhythms & rapidly swift thunder from duo guitarists Kyle Ort & David Bruno. Some of the riffs sound a little bland, yet they chug and gallop into a frolicking distortion of rumbling pandemonium. "New Age" distributes momentously primitive soundscapes; Nu-Metal musicianship, while portraying profusely robust persistency on the sub-genre's grandure of perseverence. Seamlessly solidifying rambunctiously riveting stability; with rip-roaring shreds, prestigiously wonderous styles that result in a fashionable flair of firepower & distinguished expertise.

Dylan Roy on the hammering drums, batters with steely precision, pummelling while stomping with powerhouse pounding & mellifluously striking slams. "Villian" establishes catchy songwriting memorability; juxtaposed with jumpy meatiness, polished sound production sublimity & thumpy bass audibility from Eric Sinful. Fabricating immersively pulsating punchiness, wildly rushing remedies & sometimes savagely volatile tightness. "No Life" grinds into radio-friendly territory; transistioned with killer maelstroms of rattling patterns, pulverising Metalcore characteristics and a bleeding forge of softness - into consistent drum cymbal pedalling proceedings nailing it with traditional variations make this one a fairly venomous performance. While "Obvious" wraps the soul with narcissistic nihilism; toned down into bleak darkness, fuelled with nasty outrès of ominously uncanny material.

"Hollow" follows suite with more reverberating spectrums that scratches the surface with razor-sharp skill, prodegiously trailblazing might & weighty woe is me sorrow - a hauntingly daunting belter, eerie and deadly song. "Misery" changes the pace with intensely immense haste, boundlessly leaping into a fierce fretwork of blistering blitzkreig & everly growing on me vocals that all gets better at this portion of the record. "Ghost" hypnotizes eardrums with rocking beats; before an acoustically calming ballad-esquire chorus poised with serenely tranquil interlopes fades away with more explosively, and crushingly hybrid dimensions as it interrupts this experience. The penultimate track: "Locked On" is a full-throttle face-melter; euphonically exuberant, dissonantly composed & oppressively rampaging.

Overall concluding "Down In The Dark" with the creative finale entitled: "Visions"; packed with maximum potential, talented rituals & mega competition between each member who battle it out to see who kicks largest. The vocals tend to get better as the record proceeds, yet they need time to appreciate for me. However, they excel at being captivating as well as diverse from clean to guttural to screaming with sophistication - remarkably & salubriously subjugating with refreshing enjoyability. Bottom line; DARK STATION didn't exceed expectations, but I appreciated this discovery. For a debut, however - they certainly excelled themselves - though it definitely wasn't for me. Alt fans should relish this one, though. Hopefully next time, they will surprise me!