Coming off the heels of their debut 2017 EP "Forget All I Regret", THE NARRATOR have returned with an exceptional follow up "Dark Rails". The Metalcore outfit from Essen Germany have crafted 5 solid tracks that surprisingly paint with broad strokes.  The result is an accomplished work, that should not only excite current fans, but newbies as well.

The opening track "Palisades" starts things off simple enough, feeding the listener a grungy, high pitched, rust ridden riff that'll easily get stuck in your head. Sure, it's simply but its loud, and vocalist Fabi makes his presence just as memorable, cutting through the noise with screams that do more than just add to the chaos, but help solidify the foundation of the band's sound. The next song "Rails" doubles down on simple, chainsaw heavy guitars that only speed up as the song takes off sonically. Clean vocals are incorporated, as well as catchy atmospheric break downs that add an entirely new dimension to the experience and make the song a standout hit amongst the rest the album. "Renegade" follows through with more aggressive waves and even gets a little help from vocalist Jay Kucera of SKYWALKER. Track 4, "Average", is perhaps the most appropriately named on the EP, as it feels somewhat expected by this point, but ultimately fits nicely in its position before the final track "Dark" drops the hammer.

Now on its surface "Dark Rails" isn't breaking any new ground, and if there is any real experimentation taking place, you're going to find it in "Rails" more than anywhere else. But sticking to the basics breads its own rewards, and with a top-notch production that gives each musician a chance in the foreground, you'll recognize why the positives outweigh any negatives.  There is a strong focus on creating a coherent foundation at which to build up, and from this point all things are possible.  So often with hardcore bands there is a "lather, rinse, repeat" feel to the music, and while THE NARRATOR isn't free from the guilt in this department, they do just enough grafting with the fabric of the genre to create a texture that feels unique to them.