There’s darkness. And then there’s darkness.

Your guess as to what darkness pervades Sweden is as good as mine. I’ve never been to the country that has produced such brilliant post-rock acts as Audrey, Scraps of Tape, and (of course) September Malevolence. But my guess is that it is not the cold, isolating darkness of Joseph Conrad. Nor is it darkness in the scientific sense, the absence of light. The deep and embracing dark of Gothenburg must be a whole new breed, completely undefined and intangible. A binding feeling of profound and unfathomable entrenchment in human existence. Darkness that allows one to live like Thoreau, and suck the marrow out of life. That darkness. That beautiful, deep darkness.

September Malevolence has matured. They are, without a doubt, one of the premier acts of our day, and After This Darkness... is an incredible achievement. Listening to the album reveals more than just superb musicianship - the dark tone and mood allow the sweeping, cinematic music to bring you closer to the actual band. September Malevolence is on, in, and with this record. Rarely can you actually feel the presence of the artist in a given work, and with this album every emotional peak and cataclysmic low of the band members’ lives is felt and heard, forcing the listener closer to the band and the work itself. By the end of After This Darkness, you will feel bonded and attached to September Malevolence, and a band can hardly hope to achieve more than that.

Using vocals in this style of guitar driven, dynamic music can be quite a challenge, and though the band has faltered before, After This Darkness shows them incorporating lyrics in a brilliant fashion, enhancing the songs rather than distracting the listener. The instrumental work on the album is flawless as well. Arrangements are kept simple, limited to multiple-guitar melody and a slowly chugging rhythm section, but the pieces are done to such an effect that one never gets bored or tired of the traditional electric guitar setup. However, the ease with which September Malevolence executes that style does not keep them from dabbling in acoustic work and (on occasion) a more traditional indie rock set up.

As far as I’m concerned, September Malevolence has proved that they are one of the most interesting and exceptional bands playing within the soft/loud guitar-driven genre. After This Darkness shows them at the top of their game, working with medium to short length mini-epics that show more heart than any high-profile release in recent years. It is becoming increasingly easy to write a group off as “cookie-cutter”, and powerfully unique acts like September Malevolence are proving that a dynamic “crescendo-core” style can still be viable.

So what kind of darkness is it that September Malevolence is pushing? Where do we find such a warm, intrinsic darkness to shield ourselves in? What will be our light in the empty evenings of life? I suggest you grab a copy of After This Darkness, light a candle, and turn off all the lights.

And pray. Because this album just might test your divinity.

-Jack Britton