This is the band’s sixth album, and even though we have covered the band here at this very site by way of their last album, 2011s With Darkened Disorder, this is my first time hearing them and I’m impressed. Not blown away mind you, but certainly enjoying the band’s no frills, no nonsense take on slightly melodic but blistering death/black-ish metal. Also- Dan Seagrave artwork always helps.

There are strains of other influences, namely Malevolent Creation, Hypocrisy and Vader, but while certainly ‘old school’ in their approach, it’s not musty throwback old school, as they have a polished modern guitar tone and a pretty snarling, ripping pace and gait as as well as modern real world themes, opposed the  plodding old school sounds and tropes.

The 10 tracks blow by in a little over 32 minutes with no wastes moments. The God Dethroned influence is clear and present in the likes of “Vultures”, “No Quarter Given” and “Downward Spiral” with slicing, blasting  harmonies  A few slower moments break up the searing riffs, such as first half of “Salvation in Vain” or “Resistance Rising” but for the most part, the album blazes by with scathing tenacity and just a bit of death metal beefiness.

This is the best of FDAs latest slew of releases which is good, as the rest of their spring releases are little outside their usual realms, including a 3 song EP from Goregast, some female fronted traditional doom (Demon Incarnate) and a absolutely terrible hair metal meets death ‘n’ roll band called Dirty Connections, so kudos for Requiem for still bringing it and churning away for over 10 years and 6 albums.

Sure Requiem is a little more brutal then their contemporaries but that still doesn’t deny the fact that one has heard these songs a million times before. However what they play, they play rather well.

Their really is little to variation between the songs. In fact every song sounds extremely similar to the last. The listening experience is linear and most of the riffs have been done better by a lot of other bands.

The riffs are strong and had me head banging at a few parts such as 3:20 during “Echoes of War” and 2:20 of “Omnivore.” Then theirs the blackened tinged jams of “Symbol Of Nine,” “I’am Legion,” and the war metal-esque tunes – “Feed The Greed,” “Solemn Sacrifice,” and the title track “Within Darkened Disorder.”

That being said, not even those songs are worth to dive into since one has heard this style of death metal portrayed better by the likes Asphyx, Hate Eternal, and the almighty super group Hail Of Bullets.

The instrumentation is fine and the vocals are top notch. One thing I commend them for is the use of understandable growls and screams.Also, the production on this release is strong and dare I say it very “powerful.” But really that’s all they have going for them.

I wanted to love this release as the album art is amazing and reeks of old school mentality. It’s just the copy-cat riffs and same-y songs don’t cut it for a release of this kind of death metal. If you’re a fan of this style then by all means dig in, but for those that need a little substance in their death metal, you might want to pass.