The last Christian metal record I covered was Voluntary Mortification‘s Suffer to Rise back in 2020, which also happened to be Rottweiler Records, which is fast becoming the premier label for extreme Christian Music with bands like A Hill to Die Upon,  Death Requisite, xDOULOSx, Krig, Desolate Tomb, Symphony of Heaven and such, much like Facedown/Strikefrst Records on the 00s. 

Honestly- I could copy and paste my Suffer to Rise review, but that would be lazy. This is very solid, heavy as balls modern deathcore, and also heavily Christian in themes and lyrics from duo Dennis (vocals) and Jordan (instruments).

(Un)Worthy is not quite as bulldozing as Voluntary Mortification, (whose vocalist Connor Luttig appears in the opener “Forsaken by God”). Still, it’s close, it’s well produced, and the duo have clearly done their modern, straightforward deathcore homework as you can hear all sorts of (non-Christian) influences from early  Whitechapel and Osiah, Oceano, and such. Dennis has the requisite screams, bellows, and bleghs, and Jordan delivers plenty of stout breakdowns (“This Present Darkness”, “This Too Shall Pass”, “The Journey Home”, “The Spirit Speaks”) and blasts (“Satan Whispers” ).

The 7 shortish songs blow by pretty quickly, and there’s the requisite prayer interlude thing (“Psalm of the Lament”), so the album doesn’t outstay its welcome (under 26 minutes),  which Christian bands love, which is fine as while it’s a solid album it’s not anything that stands out or calls me back. And that’s not due to it being Christian, I’ve given Suffer to Rise plenty of spins since it came out.

But if you are the type of would that needs some Christian brutality in their lives, then This Present Darkness will fit the bill.

[Visit the band's website]

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