Spirit In The Glass
MNRK Heavy, 2025
9/10
The debut from an outfit spearheaded by the guitarist/singer/producer Dario Lorina (of Black Label Society fame), Dark Chapel brings grooves, melodies and bluesy moments to these 10 hard hitting tracks.
The razor sharp riffs of “Afterglow” opens with Luis Silva’s hard hitting drums surrounding the dynamic hard rock that uses smooth vocals, and “Hollow Smile” follows with a thumping presence, where Brody DeRozie’s chugging guitar suits the tuneful and thick rock.
The middle track belongs to “Glassheart”, where flowing melodies and Mike Gunn’s skilled bass make for a distinct richness, while “Dead Weight” recruits mature keys and Lorina’s soulpipes amid much intimacy.
Close to the end, “Gravestoned Humanity” balances power and tunefulness with meticulous guitars and the precise rhythm section, and “Bullet In Our Chamber” exits with swirling beauty, hazy textures and strong attention to mood.
A truly diverse and memorable first record, Dark Chapel explores all sorts of sophisticated ideas added to their hard rock and metal ways, and we’re all better off for it.
Travels well with: Soen- Memorial; Station- Perspective