" Formed in 2012, Rio Rancho’s Darken the Day plays modern metal, absorbing and transforming various genres in the realm of heavy metal into a distinct and modern sound. For 2016, Darken the Day offers up a new full-length studio CD, titled Stones, issued through PolyRam Music Group, LLC.

 

 Recorded at Blue Lion Studios in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, under the guidance of executive producers Todd Gilliam and Rob Smith (who also serves as an engineer), Stones core sound is modern heavy metal built on traditional sounds cultivated into a modern, heavy, and progressive approach. Two vocalists are present, with Drew “Drucifer” Lucero and Tony Tencza taking turns on the lead microphone. Both singers have a clean approach, with one preferring the band’s “softer” songs while the other tends to tackle the heavier, harsher ones. Musically, the band taps into a variety of sounds, all of which are built upon a foundation of hard rock and facets of stoner rock and traditional heavy metal.

 

 Tracks like the opener, “Between Me and Me,” and songs such as the title track and “Fear the Unknown,” reside in the experimental realm of progressive metal, with drummer Mikey Kimura setting down some solid percussive streams upon which the dueling guitars of Rob Smith and Ace Armstrong produce melodic rhythms, catchy hooks, and soothing leads. There are moments of harshness within such songs, but the overall vibe is one designed to groove.

 

 Harshness and heaviness builds on tracks such as “All Held Dear” and “No Cure for the Dying,” with the former showcasing the groove-metal guitar vibes and an accelerated pace and the latter busting out the bass licks of Mike “Gutter” Garcia and a vibe gleaned from the likes of stoner rock and space metal.

 

 Complementing the heaviness is a more aggressive vocal approach—however, even on such heavy and harsh songs, the band takes the time to ensure that melody serves as the “glue” for the foundation. There are even some death howls in the latter track that serve as an introduction to an all-out guitar burst and vocal chant.

 

 Other songs exemplify facets of other genres. Modern metal is on full display on tracks such as “My Shame” and the bone-cruncher “Hellbound” with their epic background vocals, melody lines, and harsh guitar licks; facets of punk rock step to the forefront on “Dirty Little Hands;” and then there’s the groove metal of tracks such as “Don’t Want That for Me” (with Kimura’s drums leading the way) and “Again,” both of which will have you moving in seconds flat.

 

 Sporting some killer artwork and design by Kreig Antonelli (EW Enterprises), Darken the Day’s Stones brings some much-needed life into the realm of modern metal. “Progressive” is a word thrown about a little too much these days, but the sheer musicianship and songwriting prowess found in Stones makes the word an apt one. Simply stated, the songs found on Stones all rock, each standing on its own but all coming together in a collective that is worth listening to in their entirety.

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