The Dark - Sinking into madness LP

Toxic State Records

Compton’s THE DARK dropped one of the best LPs of the year with Sinking Into Madness this summer (even more impressive considering members of the band released albums in TOZCOS and PERSONAL DAMAGE respectively). An album as moody as it is heavy, Sinking Into Madness mixes 80’s metal and thrash with hardcore punk and dresses it all in head to toe deathrock black. And while there are endless sources of inspiration to pick apart here, the big two that continuously rear their heads to my ears are 80’s UK metal punk and metallic Japanese hardcore, the former showing in the galloping drums and riffs and the latter in the uniquely evil vocals and fiery guitar leads. - Eric Anderson