Record of the Week: The Dark: Sinking Into Madness LP

The Dark: Sinking Into Madness 12" (Toxic State Records) Jeff did a great write-up on Sinking into Madness for his staff pick last week and you should consult that for a more in-depth history lesson and analysis on the Dark’s debut LP, but I still wanted to throw in my two cents on how exceptional this is. Featuring members of recent favorites Tozcos and Personal Damage (among many others), the pedigree here is strong, and it does not disappoint. As Jeff noted, the riffs are in the Randy Uchida school (I even hear a bit of Motley Crue sleaze on “Heartless”), but the record’s pace and tempos remind me of G-Zet’s restrained gallop. Rather than the guttural vocals you might expect from a band in that style, though, the vocals here sound like 80s LA death rock, using screams, shouts, and even some slightly Dracula-sounding croons. It’s a unique combination, and if you like the intense but dark vibes of False Confession, 45 Grave, or mid-period Execute (Jeff’s Blunt Sleazy comparison was dead-on), the Dark might hit you similarly. Sinking into Madness was a bit of a grower for me… the record is so restrained and the sound is so unique that it took me a minute to adjust, but once it hit, it hit hard. And it goes without saying that the Toxic State packaging is on point as always. Sinking Into Madness is one of the most singular and interesting punk LPs in recent memory.