Album Review: Darko – Bonsai Mammoth

Guildford, UK based melodic hardcore quintet Darko have unleashed their latest release, Bonsai Mammoth, via Bird Attack Records (US),Lockjaw Records (UK), Torch of Hope Records (JP) and Giljotina Records (SI). Despite Darko‘s longevity this is their debut full length and it follows on from the steady stream of EP’s and singles that have littered their history. The album was released yesterday, the 3rd February 2017, and is now available to purchase on vinyl and CD, and Bonsai Mammoth can also be streamed and ordered digitally.

Bonsai Mammoth starts with some light, almost jazz, chords, this worrying start is thankfully short lived, at the 25 second mark the album jump starts with the frantic hardcore infused skate punk of the opening track, Life Forms. Bonsai Mammoth continues in this vein, with the exception of the brief mellow strains of The Chernobyl Effect, a track that acts as a brief mid point intermission to the relentless punk assault. The pace and intensity contained on Bonsai Mammoth is unrelenting, but the style in which it is delivered remains varied, encompassing hardcore, melodic hardcore and skate punk, along with a few technical math rock flourishes that add a technical element to their delivery.

This is the sound of a band that is experiencing something of a renaissance in their sound, Darko have been with us for a while now, their debut EP was released back in 2010, and Bonsai Mammoth sounds tighter and more focused and intense than anything Darko have previously released. This is a somewhat relentless release, with the sole exception of the brief instrumental that acts as a mid distance marker, that is a full on hardcore assault from start to end, one that sits at the extreme end of the melodic hardcore spectrum. As Darko approach the milestone of a decade together Bonsai Mammoth is an indicator that this is a band that clearly has a lot more to offer.

Darko‘s Facebook presence can be found here, their Bandcamp is here and their website is here

Bonsai Mammoth can be streamed and purchased via Bird Attack Records here