(Un)worthy
This Present Darkness
(Rottweiler Records)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Un)worthy burst on the scene with last year\u2019s \u201cWhere Light Divides\u201d after a string of
digital singles going back to 2019. I reviewed their debut EP here at Heaven\u2019s Metal a
few months ago and had some very positive things to say about it. How will the band
have advanced since 2023?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For starters, the formula is similar: super heavy deathcore that takes lots of cues from
traditional death metal, including lots of blastbeats. What\u2019s different this time around are
some slower paces (at times bordering on sludge) and some melodic and\/or
progressive tendencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Interestingly, the mini-album (7 tracks) is a conceptual piece, tracing the story of
someone who is struggling with doubts amidst the pains of life and mental\/emotional
health. As such, it reminds me\u2014at least lyrically and conceptually\u2014of Seventh Angel\u2019s
\u201cLament for the Weary\u201d album, from that perspective of being open and upfront about
struggles with faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Things start off with \u201cForsaken by God,\u201d which features guest vocals by Connor Luttig of
labelmates Voluntary Mortification. The song creates a double entendre\u2014juxtaposing
Jesus\u2019s prayer on the cross \u201cMy God, My God, why have you forsaken me?\u201d with the
same thoughts from an individual struggling to find God amidst the struggles of this life.
It\u2019s lyrically very effective as it traces the reality of lament back to the Son of God
himself. The track is slow and heavy for the most part with some thrashy parts built in
as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis Present Darkness\u201d sees our character (in 1 st person narrator) sinking deeper into
despair, asking for death. Meanwhile trying to fake it to others:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A smile on my face
Hides the pain
Inside I feign happiness
But I wish I would die<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is heavy stuff, both musically and lyrically. While it may sit uncomfortably with
many of us, I daresay we all know someone\u2014or perhaps we\u2019ve been that person\u2014who
has felt this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When they are at their lowest, the adversary comes in to convince our character to give
up. So goes the song \u201cSatan Whispers,\u201d which is reminiscent of the story of Job and
the counsel given by Job\u2019s wife and his so-called friends. The track is definitely the low-
point of the narrative:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can\u2019t you see your God doesn\u2019t love you<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because you\u2019ve strayed from Him too far
And no one here on earth will ever love you
Once they all discover who you are<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again, this is uncomfortable stuff, but aimed right at exposing the lies of our spiritual
enemy! \u201cThe Psalm of Lament\u201d comes next. Clocking in at a minute and a half, the
track quotes directly from Psalm 42, and serves as the turning point of the story.
\u201cThis Too Shall Pass\u201d gives away its meaning in the title, and features guest vocalist Joe
Holt (of HolyName). The track serves as a prayer of submission, repentance, and true
contemplation from our narrator:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If I can\u2019t find solace in life
Then eternity will provide relief
Lord, please increase my faith
I believe, help my unbelief<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like so many of the Psalms, \u201cThis Present Darkness\u201d follows the pattern of lament,
return to the Lord, resolve to trust. Track 6, \u201cThe Spirit Speaks\u201d sees our narrator
stepping out of the darkness and into the light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve heard the Spirit speak
He calls me by my name
I wasn\u2019t listening
And I\u2019m the one to blame
I heard His voice in my darkest moment
\u201cI don\u2019t love you based on what you\u2019ve done\u201d
\u201cI love you because you are my child\u201d
\u201cYou will forever be my son\u201d
\u201cYou will forever be my son\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wow, don\u2019t we all need to be reminded of that Gospel truth! And it doesn\u2019t hurt that it\u2019s
coming to us in a crushingly heavy death metal\/deathcore song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The album ends with \u201cThe Journey Home,\u201d which is not about death but about the
return of our character into full fellowship with the Father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like a child separated from his Father
We are like sheep that have gone astray
Traversing this path of darkness
We are lost and can\u2019t find our way<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If there was any worry that (Un)worthy couldn\u2019t live up to the hype of their debut, \u201cThis
Present Darkness\u201d settles all fears. If anything, it\u2019s probably surpassed the debut with
its narrative, conceptual storyline, as well as the increased diversity of sounds, yet
without losing any of the sheer brutality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4 out of 5 stars.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
(Un)worthyThis Present Darkness(Rottweiler Records) (Un)worthy burst on the scene with last year\u2019s \u201cWhere Light Divides\u201d…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":12094,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1020],"tags":[2364],"class_list":["post-12093","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-review","tag-unworthy"],"yoast_head":"\n