Darkend is an Italian extreme metal band with a penchant for black. They have been around since roughly 2007, releasing a demo that year followed by 2 LP's. This is the first album in 4 years. The band has toured with major acts such as Rotting Christ, Samael, and Melechesh to name just a handful; with a stage show they describe as "a unique mix of sound, theatre and occult ceremony: from esoteric epitaphs and incense burning to ghastly skulls, grave candles and dead branches, every single detail is meant to build a spiritual mist of bleakness and horror." It makes sense then that they have developed the connections over the years to feature the likes of Attila Csihar (MAYHEM), Niklas Kvarforth (Shining), Sakis Tolis (Rotting Christ) and Labes C. Necrothytus (Abysmal Grief) on this latest outing.\
The Canticle Of Shadows certainly opens on a high note with "Clavicula Salomonis." Let me tell you, this 5-piece has a flair for the dramatic. Between the imposing howls, subtly placed symphonic flourishes, and Borgirish guitar work; Darkend has the perfect recipe for an impressive stage performance. Tracks in general are of moderate lengths (7-8 minutes), but their ability to create more of an experience than a song allows them to hold up pretty well.
Darkend also throw out the occasional curveball, like the smooth saxophone on "A Precipice Towards Abyssal Caves (Inmost Chasm, I)." Again, I am pleased with how subtle and sparing the band is with their use of everything from synth and organ to these more atypical inclusions. Rather than sound like it's some sort of statement of "hey, look how weird and eclectic we are," I get more of a vibe that it's "we make black metal usic, and we use anything available to further the darkness."
And further it they most certainly do. Some of these tunes are quite intense, leaving one unable to avoid being sucked in. I'm especially prone to being enveloped in the unholy hymn of "Il Velo Delle Ombre," where the frontman repeatedly warns of his desire to "make you all pay!" over hypnotic, bending guitar riffs and just a touch of strings for counterbalance. If you are a fan of BM on the symphonic side and with a penchant for theatrics, Darkend is something you should add to your collection. The album is out below, so stream it now.