Hailing from Albany, New York, arguably one of the heaviest bands in the music scene right now, Downswing are preparing to release their brand new album: "And Everything Was Dark". I've been a fan of this band for years now, ever since I heard 2017's "Dark Side Of The Mind" EP and fell in love with the band even more with "Bound To Misery", a collaboration with AVOID. This new album has all the makings of becoming the album-of-the-year. From snare-bombs to insane vocal range to breakdowns that punch you in the face after the lyrics leave you a sobbing mess, I truly think this is the greatest Downswing has ever been.
Right away you know this is going to be a good album with an opening track like "No God To Me". It absolutely sets the tone for the rest of the songs to come, and leaves you not just wanting, but craving more with each listen. Downswing have seemed to crack the code on making songs that are insanely heavy while showing a wide range in musical talent. While their sound is all their own, I would have to describe it to new listeners as what Wage War incorporated that allowed them to ascend the metalcore ranks. Now, you might be saying to yourself, "Well, if that's the case, I'll just go listen to Wage War", and you are allowed to. But, you'd be missing out on some insane songs like "Thanks For Nothing", "In A Daze", and "For What It's Worth". C'mon, that feature from Travis Moseley of Colorblind? Chef's kiss!
You can tell right away that this release is different for the band, and it is not as if they have something to prove to the world, but they are doing it just for themselves and doing exactly what THEY want to do. When speaking about the album, vocalist Harrison Seanor states:
“We focused a lot more on structure and storytelling this time around. Before, things might have been more chaotic or riff-driven, but now we’re thinking about flow, dynamics, and what makes a song feel big and memorable. There’s no filler here. Every song has a purpose."
And how:
“Every song on this record has real meaning. There are songs about people we’ve lost, about people we’ve watched spiral, about trying to forgive people who hurt you. It’s personal, but I think people will relate to it in their own way.”
Even the naming of the title shows a masterclass level of precision:
“There’s a lot of death on this record. A lot of darkness. But it’s not just about being miserable—it’s about working through that, about facing it head-on. That’s what this band has always been about: getting heavy so we can get something out.”
If you've gotten to this point and still are not convinced, then you need to shut up and go listen to "The Serpent". It is a prime example of a raw and in-your-face ass-beater of a song that has the potential to demolish any venue that the band plays it at.
At this point, there is without a shadow of a doubt in my mind that "And Everything Was Dark" is going to continue to skyrocket the band to a new level of success. Do yourself a favor and catch Downswing live very soon alongside Saltwound and Wristmeetrazor as they head out on the road in support of Great American Ghost on the Tragedy of the Commons Tour.
