Hidden Hands In The Sadist Nation

Title: Hidden Hands In The Sadist Nation
Artist: Darkest Hour
Release Date: 2004
Score: 5/10
Styles: Death Metal, Thrash, Speed Metal, Progressive Metal

Darkest Hour was put on the map with their independent label album 'The Mark Of The Judas' which was a solid piece of metalcore during the times when the genre was first becoming big across the states. Fans of Darkest Hour definately had high hopes for 'Hidden Hands In The Sadist Nation'. The album surely does not disappoint. It's a pretty nice sample of thrash metal. However, once you've listened to the album, you may not be as satisfied as you would want to be. There isn't a moment where Darkest Hour falls short on the loudness meter (excluding the final track which is just a 10 minute instrumental) and the guitars pump your ears with unforgiving mindless aggression, which is where the album falls short. 'Hidden Hands In The Sadist Nation' is fun to listen to, but there's just no inspiration to be found here. Each track deals with corruption and conspiracy in government but doesn't really guide you to anything. All that you will find in 'Hidden Hands In The Sadist Nation' is thundering thrash metal and hard edged vocals, but not much more.