By: Ciera Rybak
Rising from the underground in the early 2000s, Darkest Hour quickly carved a name for themselves in the metalcore and melodic death metal scenes. Across nine studio albums, the band has consistently pushed the boundaries of their sound, evolving while staying true to their blistering core.
Known for their dual guitar harmonies, politically charged lyrics, and unrelenting vocals, Darkest Hour has earned their place as underground legends. Their influence is undeniable, and their intensity remains respected amongst the scene.
Darkest Hour’s most unfiltered and ferocious release to date is their 2017 record, “Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora.” The ninth studio album by the American metal band doesn’t waste a second. It tears. It rips. It demands repeated spins.
“Godless Prophets and the Migrant Flora” is a full-throttle return to form, the sound of a band with nothing left to lose and everything to scream about.
Produced by Kurt Ballou, record producer and guitarist for metalcore band Converge, this record strips away the gloss of previous releases in favor of raw, melodic death metal chaos. It's political, thrashy, and relentless in all the right ways. Tracks like “Knife in the Safe Room” and “Those Who Survived” hit like a gut punch, fueled by piercing riffs and John Henry’s signature howl. Meanwhile, “The Flesh & the Flowers of Death” slows things down just enough to feel devastating, and “Timeless Numbers” stands out for its razor-sharp balance of melody and mayhem.
This isn’t a nostalgic throwback. It’s a refined evolution of everything that made Darkest Hour essential in the genre.
The “Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora” Exile Bloom variant will be shipped exclusively to Vinyl Club members this month. Join the club now and own one of the most essential records in modern metal.