Dark Saints - The Demon

While Dark Saints is a project that has only recently started out I would say that they have synthwave and dark synth locked down. Taking a look at their discography on DIscogs, I noted that their imagery contains cyberpunk and sci-fi aesthetics as well as a creepy, spooky and otherwise haunted graveyard. Aesthetics, however, are just the bare bones of a project; it's the music that counts. They have recently released a vocal version of their single 'The Demon', with the project stating that it's influenced by both goth music and early NIN. I find 'The Demon' to be a track that is on the cusp of greatness, if only held back due to its opening moments. 

Dark Saints understands what the synthwave and darksynth audience desires. However, therein lies my major complaint during the first two minutes of 'The Demon'; it sticks too close to tropes within the genre. The darksynth wobbles that start off the song are so similar to many other bands within the market that it's hard for me differentiate Dark Saints from those other bands. The addition of guest vocalist EM BE, the track does get a bit of a refresher since a lot of other synthwave project either don't use vocals or have horrible vocals. But EM BE does the song justice. 

Where 'The Demon' shines most, however, starts after the first two minutes. A bright and hopeful synths leads the way to a brilliant section of the song that starts after a sample of a car taking off ends. Dark Saints unloads creative synths and the like afterward while guest guitarist George Colclough matches the synthetic energy Dark Saints pours out. EM BE bleeds his heart out on vocals and the song ends on a fantastic high note. Other minor remarks concerns mixing and mastering, as I have heard cleaner production within the genre before, but it's not enough to make me disregard the song. 

What Dark Saints has going for them is wonderful; they know the genre inside-out, or so it seems, and they're able to crank out a banger. If they can find their own niche within the genre without relying to heavily on tropes, I believe they're going to skyrocket sooner rather than later. Seven-out-of-ten! 

This review was commissioned through our Ko-fi page.
Nov 15 2021