Darko (US) Close Out 2023 With Nu Deathcore Wildcard Entry 'Shanghai'

In true Darko (US) form, they've left the best 'til absolute last. Almost to the day a year ago, Josh 'Baby J' Miller and Tom Barber dropped their second EP Dethmask Pt. 2, which lifted modern deathcore another rung. During a relatively quiet year for the duo (compared to the two years prior), they've now dropped second single 'Shanghai', a likely sophomore single to a new EP or album campaign; the first being 'Rampage' from a couple of months ago.The next era of Darko is sounding vicious, particularly after Baby J left SPITE to focus solely on Darko and Barber now having Chelsea Grin's double-album out of the way. With 'Shanghai' a late (or final) addition to your 'best of 2023' playlist, you might want to even throwback to Dethmask Pts. 1 & 2 and Oni to be reminded of how much these two have done in such a short time.The fresh single has Darko hit yet another level. After reading some reviews of 'Rampage' that it sounded a lot like the band's back catalogue - whilst I disagree with that sentiment, 'Shanghai' couldn't sound more different to what these guys have ever one. Barber double-downs on the "nu" and whisper-grooves ominously ahead of some psycho drum-beats and programming. In the same way that they sonically imitated flying insects on "THE FLY AND THE BEE' a year ago, mastermind 'Baby J' manages to immersively soundtrack the dichotomy between a street-side Chinese metropolis and its post-2am underbelly nightclub. With Barber evolving into a primitive beast vocally, you'll experience Darko boasting one of their longest tracks (exceeding five minutes), and 'Shanghai' will end your year the way you deserve.

Stream 'Shanghai' here

Words by Ricky Aarons (@rickysaul90)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilNkhBVEUzg&pp=ygURZGFya28gdXMgc2hhbmdoYWk%3D