W.E.B. were formed in 2002 and they are from Athens, Greece. The symphonic Black Metal band released so far five full-length albums and two EPs. "Darkness Alive" is their first live album. The album was recorded in Athens back in September 2024 and it has a length of more than 41 minutes. "Darkness Alive" has been released via US Metal legends Metal Blade Records. The live album starts with the tension-building symphonic intro "Crimson Dawn", taken from the 2014 full-length album "For Bidens". After that opening, it gets more symphonic and a bit operatic with the track "Pentalpha". It is mainly driven by the strings, the drumming, and the vocals, supported by the choir. It is a grim track with tight guitar riffs and as the track goes on, the brass get increasingly prominent. The vocals utilize medium to higher pitched growls. While the tempo varies mainly around mid-tempo, there are also a couple of sequences at measured tempo with thunderous riffs. "Dark Web" is a crushing and fast track with devastating and tight guitar riffs as well as some blast-beat attacks. The mid-tempo chorus parts deliver darkness and a blood-freezing atmosphere with the strings. There is a break at a measured tempo, which uses the full orchestra, accompanied by the double-bass drumming. The break also introduces a bit of melancholy in the melodies. Both, "Pentalpha" and "Dark Web" were taken from the album "Colosseum" (2021). "Dark Web" is the official video release, and the YouTube link is provided below.

"Into Hell Fire We Burn" is the most recent song on the live album, as it is the title track of the latest EP (2023). The track is a blend between fast and mid-tempo parts, where the fast parts are driven by the relentless blast-beats. The guitar riffing is punishing. The break is a fast, Thrash Metal inspired delivery with a contributing lead guitar solo at its heart. Altogether, "Into Hell Fire We Burn" has a certain catchiness in the melodies and it is a track for the pit. "Murder Of Crows" is another fast track during the verse parts, driven by the blast-beats and the double-bass. The choruses offer a counterpoint as not only does the tempo get slow, but also the melodies provide a distinct switch towards darkness and melancholy. The orchestrations become more prominent during the final melancholic parts of the track. "Necrology" starts with the orchestrations driven by the brass, transitioning into tight and powerful guitar riffs at mid-tempo. The melodies are blood-freezing during the verse parts, however, during the choruses they become more melancholic. Both, "Murder Of Crows" and "Necrology" were also taken from the 2021 release "Colosseum".

The final third of the live album offers three older tracks. "Morphine For Saints" is another fast track with punishing guitar riffs, accompanied by the relentless double-bass drumming at mid-tempo. The vocals are very aggressive but also offer the few distinct tonal shifts by switching between lower and higher-pitched growls. There is another very contributing lead guitar solo during the break, while the melodies are spine-chilling. "Morphine For Saints" is certainly one of the concert highlights. "Dragona" calms things down for a moment with a short symphonic introduction. However, it does not take long as the blast-beats are introduced. In the following, the track develops an alternation between fast, relentless verse parts and epic and melancholic choruses at a measured tempo. The break with the lead guitars intensifies the melancholic mood of the track. Both, "Morphine For Saints" and "Dragona" were taken from the album "Tartarus" (2017). The transition to the final track "Eligos" is seamless and "Eligos" is arguably the heaviest concert track. There is plenty of pace and aggression throughout the track. Taken the 2014 album "For Bidens", it is the highlight of the concert and the best choice for a great finale. The track closes with the orchestra and the choir.

Live albums have become a bit of a rarity in recent years. It is great to see that W.E.B. still release one. "Darkness Alive" is a fine selection of the W.E.B. catalogue with a focus on the releases during the last 12 years of the band's history. It is a well-produced live album. The album offers symphonic Black Metal at its best and proves that Greece has a great scene beyond ROTTING CHRIST and SEPTICFLESH. "Darkness Alive" is a must-have for fans of symphonic Black and Death Metal.