SIGNS OF DARKNESS is a Melodic Black metal band based out of Belgium. Formed in 1994, the band has previously release three full-length albums. "The Age of Decay" is the band's fourth, and contains eleven tracks. The brief acoustic instrumental of "The Rise of Serpents" opens the album. The chords are engaging but sorrowful and hint at what it to come.

The title track segues the opening instrumental into the main sound of the song. Guitar and drums work together in a frenzied sound and the vocals are done in high pitch lamentations. Though the two chord step method of a lot of black metal is present here, the usual "wall of sound" isn't quite as pronounced. "Suffer the Cold" has a similar sound and pace.

There is a certain sterility to the song that begs feelings of hopelessness and loss. The sky is gray and bleak and the landscape void. There is some nice lead guitar work on this track that offers some moments of good melody. "Clouds over your Masada" has a more frenzied and hurried pace and some fast picked guitar passages. Overall the guitar has a strong presence in this track. The acoustical interlude at the half way mark is a nice change of pace. "Sin" has a more despondent sounding riff and some alternating blast beat percussion, with double and quad bass strikes throughout. "The Sounds of a Desolate Winter" opens more ominously and with a more melodic and discernable riff, but doesn't waste much time settling into a familiar rhythm.

The interlude in "Terra Nullius" is a bit longer than usual and features slower, more deliberate guitar chords that wallow in misery. Blood curling screams accompany the guitar work that takes the track to completion.

"The Lazarus Syndrome" has a dissonant main riff that progresses up a note intead of down a note which if often the usual pattern in this style. The quiet and pensive acoustic song "The Circle of Serpents" closes the album in an anti-climactic fashion.

Overall I find this to be fairly traditional Black Metal structurally, but without quite as much of the "wall of sound" you often find in this style. It is dark, mysterious and sorrowful.