This is the second album from US death metal band Veriteras.
Veriteras play melodic black/death metal inspired by the old-school Scandinavian scene of the 90s. The Dark Horizon is a 31-minute homage to this era, and boy does it get a lot right.
To start, let me say that due to the genre tag I wasn’t expecting The Dark Horizon to have the blackened coating that it does, but I’m not complaining. The use of synths, the harsh screams, the cutting riffs, and the expressive melodies place the music firmly halfway between the black and death strains of the melodic style, and I have to say that is suits the band well. Think a cross between Children of Bodom, Dark Tranquillity, and In Flames, and you’ll be approaching The Dark Horizon from the right angle. Other influences can be heard across the album too, (touches of folk and power metal in places), and it could easily appeal to certain fans of black metal, (think Stormkeep, Valdrin, Moonlight Sorcery, etc.), but you get the general idea.
I have to say that Veriteras’ old-school approach is very good. It holds a certain nostalgic quality for me for sure, but it’s really enjoyable in its own right. You don’t really hear them played too much like this these days, so it makes The Dark Horizon a joy to listen to. In a nutshell, this is well-crafted, good quality, and damn fun.
Veriteras make good use of the calling cards of the style, with a blistering melodic assault that borders upbeat and happy territories, but mostly refrains from travelling too far down those paths. The end result is an album that’s energetic and exciting, but with enough teeth and darkness to remain in the game for the long haul. The songs are aggressive and driven by fast riffs and engaging leads. The songwriting emphasises memorability and brief, song-focused arrangements that make the most of the band’s influences, while allowing Veriteras to shine with their own light.
I admit it, I didn’t expect The Dark Horizon to be quite as good as it is. It takes me back to the 90s, and provides a kickass experience for a lean, tight half an hour. Despite this, I doubt this will get the traction it deserves, (although I hope I’m wrong!), due to the nature of the style, the relatively unassuming cover, the fact it’s self-released, etc. This is a huge shame, as trust me when I say that The Dark Horizon is far better and more enjoyable than most current melodic death metal acts out there at the moment. Veriteras are a minor revelation, and I urge you to blast this one out loudly!
Wonderbox Metal 