DARKANE is a Melodic Death metal band from Helsingborg, Sweden. If you listened to much Swedish melodic metal in the late 90's into the early 2000's, there is a pretty good chance you have come across these guys before, or know of some of their members from previous bands. Starting out in 1990 under the name DEMISE, then changing over to AGRETATOR in 1992 and releasing one full length album called Delusions in 1994, they became DARKANE in 1998 and were busy in the next four years releasing three full length albums. With these albums receiving good reviews and after much touring they released their fourth album Layers of Lies in 2005 and Demonic Art in 2008. While going back to their original vocalist in 2013 for their sixth release The Sinister Supremacy, we find ourselves in the presence of their seventh album in 2022 called Inhuman Spirits.

The album starts off with the track "Inhuman Spirits" and the drums take center stage in this track. Peter is on point as the melodic guitars and overall timing of the track gives him ample chance to be creative with speed driving rolls and strong double bass. The next track "Awakening" is more of a Death metal song and sounds like a classic 90's Swedish metal song. Lawrence strays away from the clean vocals of the first song with a more darkened growl and the guitars fed his aggression with some cool riffs and a nice solo that fits the song well. The song features some off timing tempo after the solo that catches the attention of the listener. "Embrace the Flames'' has a thrashy effect that continues throughout the track with pounding drums and lightning fast guitar work. The vocals are more of a low screech on the song as Lawrence portrays a wide range of vocal varieties on the entire album.

"Inhaling Mental Chaos" is a melodic headbanger that inhabits mental chaos very well with a mix of clean vocals and deep growls . The drums are forcefully and hard driven while the guitars and bass keep a frantic pace. The guitar solo sounds great and sticks out to me more than others on the album in my opinion. "Mansion of Torture" has the majority of what you are looking for in a melodic heavy metal song. Dueling guitars solos in between multiple great riffs, a strong bass presence matching great drums to keep a heavy rhythm all along, and vocals that carry an unsettling subject. "Quintessence of Evil" opens up with rumbling bass and drums before the guitar kicks in to add to the cool intro. The song is a hammering and thundering track with the rhythm section carrying the song with force. "The Great Deceiver" starts with an intro that brings me back to when I was young and getting into European metal and loving intros like this from bands like AT THE GATES and IN FLAMES that did it so well. The band pulls this off just the same with melodic speed that binds itself together to cast the song off. The track is a well written song with a variety of chord structures and tempo changes that help keep a chaotic feeling leading up to a melodic chorus. The album finishes up with a piano piece called "Vålnader" and gives off a relaxing but yet mysterious feeling that allows you to come down from the rest of the album and leaves you wishing it carried on for longer.

I think this is another good release from a veteran band that as a whole, writes and creates music that they are pleased with. It sounds great production wise, and with this being their first release in nine years, it sounds like time was put into it. The departure of Sydow after the album Layers of Lies was tough for some fans but Lawrence takes hold here and does a great job, along with all the past work he has done with the group. This release should give the guys a few more songs to put in the mix for any upcoming setlists.