Formed from the ashes of the short-lived Drago comes The Darker Shore, with a more progressive, experimental bent and a groove-based stoner sound on their three song demo, released through Love Muffin Records. The disc has a heavy, sludgy sound reminiscent of bands like Kyuss and even Black Sabbath, but the tracks are augmented throughout with various secondary influences.

"Against the Dying" gets things off to a quick start with a punk taste to it and is the biggest "rocker" on the disc; its energy is infectious and gets the listener pumping their fist. One listen to this track and you WILL thrash.

"O My Dear" is a splash of cold water after the opener and immediately reels the sound back in with a slow, methodical, brooding sound ripped straight out of Tool's play book. On the first listen, the two tracks may seem out of place next to each other, but the final track, "T(h)orn", is a straight up rocker which does a fine job of bridging the gap and bringing the sounds together with its mix of classic riffing and subdued vocals.

The Darker Shore somehow manages to create a well-rounded offering in just three tracks, giving a little something to multiple audiences without watering everything down. Time will tell if this demo will lead to a full-length offering, but keep your eyes on the horizon and keep watching the darker shore.

-Late