There are many models of how making music left in the sand of time, eroded by the extensive use (and abuse) of them. But there are occasions when a ban pick one of them, and put on it its own personality. And breathing life on the genre in such way can bring some good stuff for the fans. A case of a very good name with an old formula is the Italian quartet DARKING, as heard on "Reborn", their latest release. Their music can be said as a mix between Doom Metal classic elements (from the days when TROUBLE, SAINT VITUS, CANDLEMASS, WITCHFINDER GENERAL, THE OBSESSED and others were giving their first steps) with traditional Heavy Metal and with some little touches of Hard Rock from the 70s. It's heavy and solid as a rock, bitter and funereal, slow and melodic, full of energy and (in many moments) dramatic due the vocals.

Their instrumental technique is good, enough to make their songs gain life (and without egocentric shows). One can say that such formula isn't new at all, but no one can deny the value of the quartet's music. The production worked on a form to give the album a defined and understandable sonority, one that allows the hearers to have a deeper vision of what the quartet is playing and what they want to express with their songs. But the weight is in a level that can truly smash the bones. It's a very good work, indeed.

The album presents 8 songs (the greater part of them last more than 5 minutes), all of them showing their own value and beauties, but "Reborn (from Fire)" (a heavy and disturbing song during its slower moments, it's rich in tender melodies, with an excellent work heard on bass guitar and drums), "Darking" (this one is slow and disturbing, with a dramatic approach on the vocals), "The Tower of Babel" (this one bears some 80s' Metal and Hard Rock traces, with a charming melodic appeal), "Evil and I" (what good set of guitar riffs that expel torrents of crude energy, with some faster moments improving things), "Broken Again" (a more experimental and darkened-introspective song based on clean chords and vocals) and "Time to Rise" will do the right presentations.

DARKING did a fine job on "Reborn", but their potential isn't used at its fullest, so their next time should be something astonishing (but this doesn't mean that you can't enjoy this album right now)!