***Review by Luke Hayhurst, writer for Morbid Wings (Print) Zine, VM Underground Fanzine and Doom-Metal.com***

Failure of State is the third full length instalment from San Franciscan Death/Thrash quartet Absolute Darkness. Part album, part call to arms, Absolute Darkness’s first opus since 2018’s Disaster Awaits is a rabble rousing affair as well as a slamming indictment of modern day society and those that pretend to govern us.

Opening tracks Rounded Up and Mob Rules are anger fueled slabs of hatred that talk of sparking rebellion and standing for what’s right, and those messages are delivered through fast paced riffs and drumming on top of a bass heavy rhythm and powerful growling vocal work. This is not a band calling for a peaceful resolution, that’s for damn sure.

Some tracks despair at the state of the world, such as Sanity Is Gone whilst others come at things from a different perspective, as is the case during My Forever Rule in which the band put themselves into the shoes of a dictator and ask the question; why do the people oppose me?

A very interesting album and thematically engaging and varied. Musically the fare is direct and well performed though a little unspectacular. Absolute Darkness create music with a mainly Thrash mentality (And a few hardcore sensibilities) and then thrown in more Death Metal style vocals, as well as some meatier DM riffs. Certainly anyone of a political leaning should check this out; it will stoke the fires of your anger.

Best moments of the album: The rabble rousing stomp and ceremony of Mob Rules.

Worst moments of the album: No bad moments though the album is a little samey.

Released in 2022 by Sliptrick Records

Track listing
1. Rounded Up 4:13
2. Mob Rule 4:49
3. Sanity Is Gone 4:28
4. My Forever Rule 4:00
5. Failure Of State 4:42
6. My Assassination 4:00
7. The Republic 3:59
8. Unite! 3:37

Bonus tracks
9. Chaos Unleashed 4:33
10. Mad King 5:35
11. On My Way To Death 4:55

Band members
Ron Dorn – vocals, guitars
Douglas Vetter II – lead guitars, backing vocals
Orson Sojo – bass
Emad Dajani – drums

Links
Absolute Darkness Facebook | Instagram | YouTube  | BandCamp | Spotify