Storming with menace against a greying future Stockholm, Sweden-based thrash metal quartet DISARRAY return intending a showcase of precision aggression on this latest EP featuring three new songs, a re-recording and a couple of live tracks. In this way ‘The Darkening‘ catches the listener up on where they’ve been, where they are and where they’re going in this quest to wrangle the raw brutality and uproar of late 80’s thrash without scouring it of authentic defiance. While they’re still chipping away at a signature lead style both the niche specific fidelity and dual-rhythmic riff attack have received the bulk of their efforts making for a quick and inspired introduction to their gig.

Disarray have been in action since 2022 or so and they’ve been steadfast in their purpose as an aggressive classics-minded thrash metal troupe taking inspiration from Kreator-affected bands like Morbid Saint and Hypnosia in shaping their own ideal. They’ve not wasted any time making it happen having already released two full-lengths under their name and though the first wasn’t fully readied they got it exactly right on their second LP (‘Religious Disease‘, 2024) which I’d praised in review last year. That second album was a leap into a far superior standard for the heavier, riff-focused style of thrash common in the mid-to-late 80’s which yet avoids full on death metal or death/thrash metal status despite its extremity. Even if there aren’t a ton of leads on that record its riffing and still holds up as the type of thrash record I can still sit and fully absorb into for hours on end.

Maintaining a high technical standard for a late 80’s styled brutal thrash metal attack can go a few different ways and I suppose the most enduring result is basically variations on ‘Epidemic of Violence‘ per the last two decades of thrash revivalism. Disarray definitely carry that level of volatility and ‘The Darkening‘ sounds suitably mean for the groovier escalation occurring within this EP but their muse is arguably more musically viable for the sake of not just being a wall of riff saladry. Nothing against the “plowing on mashed-together ’til they fit” style of generating riffcraft, in many cases that is my favorite shit, but these folks’ve done well to carry some manner of song idea, repeatable progression or melodic shape into each piece. In this case you’ll hear ‘Terrible Certainty‘-level havoc via face-kicked opener “Poltergeist” outright but within the ranting that follows sans any distinct chorus they’ve set a moshable bridge (~1:25 minutes in) which shouldn’t be all that mind-melting in concept but includes some of the better lead guitars/soloing we’ve heard from the band to date.

“Lord of Lies” is arguably the centerpiece of ‘The Darkening‘ and probably strongest song among the three new pieces included as it features that mix of street-level thrasher ‘tude while putting a sort of ‘Leave Scars‘ gallop to great use. That song alongside the opener is where I’d felt like Disarray are only getting better with each release and here they’re putting the pressure on more complexly arranged movements, finding harder grooves that work in a live setting and generally getting better at whipping leads without overthinking it. “Mass Abuse of Power” is more of a burner in some respects but it only reinforces the confidently struck dual-riffing attack these folks’ve always focused on; Otherwise I’m definitely hearing more detail, better rounded bass-inclusive range and a real cracking drum sound via their Endarker Studio capture and I think they’d do well to uphold this golden standard as it suits their attack brilliantly without sounding overpolished.

The second half of this six song EP includes a re-recording of “Evil is Reborn”, the closing track on their first LP, alongside two live songs which offer one song from each album. I dunno if the solo from “Evil is Reborn” is improved much but these folks definitely sound tightly synched on the live tracks. I’m not a big “bonus track” guy but we do get a better sense of the Disarray reality through both halves of the record. For my own taste they could pretty much carry this render/sound design and level of riffcraft into a third LP and I’d be stoked as the standard achieved here is impressive within a realm where nothing’s shocking. A moderately high recommendation.

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