When it comes to the sludge/doom metal scene, Florida is one of the last places one would look for bands.  Traditionally a death metal hotbed, the Sunshine State is trying to expand its horizons in the metal music scene.  Its entry into the sludge/doom metal scene is a duo called Dark Castle, who is still relatively new to the scene, having been around since 2006.  Their sophomore album Surrender to All Life Beyond Form is an album that will seek attention, if nothing else.

With a running time of just over 33 minutes, Dark Castle had better bring the goods, and they do…some of the time.  The main problem Surrender to All Life Beyond Form suffers from is not one of talent, but one of effort.  The lack of effort is not the problem here, as Dark Castle does try to bore themselves into the listener’s consciousness.  In fact, they seem to try too hard to make it happen.  The primary vocals on the album are handled by Stevie Floyd, whose style fits in with the sludge side of the band’s sound.  The title track is fairly standard for the genre, but where Dark Castle tries to stand out from the rest of the pack (and succeeds some of the time) is that they try to incorporate synths and keyboards into the mix.  Though adding the two doesn’t necessarily add a great deal to the sound, it does make Dark Castle sound a little more mechanical than your average sludge/doom metal band, as evidenced on “To Hide is to Die.”  The pacing of the album isn’t fast, which is expected, but it does go at one pace in general.  Even with all that Dark Castle tries to do, Surrender to All Life Beyond Form just doesn’t connect on first (or second) listen, and that would be just to figure out what is going on in the album.

Like many bands of similar sound, Dark Castle is an acquired taste.  Surrender to All Life Beyond Form is definitely going to take many listens to get what is going on, but the main issue is not one of patience, as the album is relatively short, but whether there is enough to warrant that many listens.  Dark Castle has some potential, but under what purpose is still as muddy as the band’s sound.

TRACK LISTING

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*Comments:

1.  Surrender to All Life Beyond Form
2.  Stare in Absence
3.  Create an Impulse
4.  Seeing Through Time
5.  Heavy Eyes
6.  Spirit Ritual
7.  To Hide is to Die
8.  I Hear Wind
9.  Learning to Unlearn

Total playing time:  33:49

Release Date: May 17th, 2011
Label: Profound Lore Records

Dark Castle - Surrender to All Life Beyond Form

Reviewer: Peter

June 23, 2011