TW: this EP contains strong lyrical depictions of suicide.
Welcome to the Boolin Tunes Staff Spotlight, a special segment on the site in which we dive deep into a classic or simply personally beloved album to shine a light on releases that we feel deserve a second glance.
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There was a time in the metalcore scene some years back in which a ‘nu-metal revival’ of sorts took place. All at once it felt as if metalcore bands started harking back to the synth- and groove-laden sounds of 90s nu-metal, replete with catchy rap-inspired hooks and all – and honestly, I was so there for it. Of course, now nu-metalcore is very much an established thing, with groups like Alpha Wolf, Dealer (RIP) and Conform all coming out of the woodwork over the past few years. However, I can identify one band that stood out from the pack, and still does to this day. A band that not only did it arguably much better than anyone else, but were also one of the first to do it.
Darke Complex were a small nu-metal-tinged core band from Texas. They started out under the moniker Widow all the way back in 2012, and while the group’s lineup shifted as they worked to make a name for themselves in their local scene, the group truly established themselves in 2015. After rebranding themselves as Darke Complex, the group released their breakout debut EP, the (formerly) eponymous Widow. Shortly thereafter, I was sent the EP by a friend at the time, and I immediately knew just how special this thing was. There was one thing that immediately stood out to me about Widow that has stuck with me ever since: just how forward-thinking it was.
See, Widow was more than just a typical nu-metal/core hybrid. While much of the release centers around chunky nu-metal riffs, eerie dissonant 90s-inspired leads and frenetic screamed vocals; it further develops into some entirely unexpected places. While opening tracks “Crows” and “Slime” set the stage for that hyper-aggressive nu-metal sound, third track “Frigid” is where we start seeing some deviation.
Trading in the metal-oriented sensibilities of the openers, “Frigid” centers around a lo-fi emo rap sound. This might not sound too out of the ordinary now, but back in 2015 these genres were not commonplace, nor were they mainstream, even outside of being hybridized with metal. Further, later track “Grief” fully leans into its lo-fi trappings, serving as a somber lo-fi ballad, a la a more potently depressive Joji.
I’m not going to imply that Darke Complex were at all responsible for the booms of these genres in the years following Widow’s release. Truth be told, I don’t think they had the traction or reach in order to reach the ears of artists that followed in that style, but it remains no less impressive just how ahead of the curve the group were in incorporating these styles – particularly on a metal record.
Its genre-bending chops aren’t the only thing that sets Widow apart from other releases of the genre, either. Taking place over the course of seven days, represented over seven tracks, Widow follows the story of a man going through the stages of grief over an unspecified incident, before eventually succumbing to suicide. With each of the seven tracks representing a day in this admittedly harrowing story of mental illness, it contains references to how the protagonist’s emotions develop and psychological state worsens as the time ticks by, track by track.
Aforementioned opener “Crows” serves as an overture of sorts, setting the stage for lyrical parallels to be drawn across the story. It’s a short, explosive and hyper-aggressive intro that sets the tone incredibly well for what’s to come. Further transitioning smoothly into “Slime” through the use of some tastefully glitchy synthesizers, the story truly begins.
While the intro determines the protagonist’s intentions of moving toward death, “Slime” shows us the character at his most violently deranged, battling an extremely visceral case of paranoia.
“I feel them all staring, glaring, wary of me
So I tear out my hair ‘til my scalp starts to bleed.”
Lo-fi cut “Frigid” explores the protagonist’s struggle with substance abuse, while also reiterating his intent toward death at the end of the week, but demonstrating his inability to act on it as of yet.
“Third day, got four left
Liver torn to shreds so I forget
Barrel full of lead to the forehead
Shiver on the trigger ’til I forfeit”
The vocal performance on this song further exacerbates the protagonist’s unstable mental state, with vocalist Vincente Void’s unsettling vocal delivery descending into a visceral scream toward the tail end of the track.
Closer “Intrusive Thoughts” brings the story to an end, with the protagonist having made up his mind and describing his death and thoughts that led up to this point in detail.
“As I descend, feel my knees bend
Indifferent, apathetic glances across the cement
When my face met at least it kissed the pavement
The ground gave me more sympathy and grief than what their stares meant“
The track also makes direct reference to the opening lines of “Crows” in its final moments, ending the record where it began, and creating a fantastically dark sense of closure to the story, ending with:
“Murders perched and watched me rot
They brought with them intrusive thoughts”
After this point, the track ends by descending into an almost industrial-like section of chaotic percussion, before quietly descending into silence. Lyrically and musically, it’s a truly harrowing ending to an already extremely bleak story. As a whole, Widow can be quite a tough listen if you hone in on the lyrics, but an incredibly gripping and well-realised one. In any case, the wildly creative instrumental work and production across this entire EP should be more than enough to keep you along for the ride.
Overall, Widow is a remarkably dark, concise and forward-thinking piece of work, from a band who sadly never gained the traction or recognition they deserved. This EP is truly one of the best that nu-metalcore, and metal in general has to offer, and one that should not be left unlistened. Only time will tell if Darke Complex ever plan to reunite, and while vocalist Vincente Void is doing well with their solo endeavors post-DC, it would be nice to hear another full-group project in the future.
Until then, join us next Sunday for another retrospective from our team in our Staff Spotlight segment, and keep your eyes locked on Boolin Tunes for all the latest rock and metal news, reviews and interviews.