To say the Gothenburg metal sound is prevalent on Darkest Hour's latest opus would be an understatement. "Hidden Hands Of A Sadist Nation" is saturated with orchestral guitars, blinding thrash dexterity and guttural death ferocity, marking the latest stage in this VA quintet's transformation from hardcore/metal hopefuls into heavy metal's upper echelon. Working alongside famed producer Fredrick Nordstrom has driven the band to live up to their remarkable potential and surpass even the highest of expectations.

"Hidden Hands Of A Sadist Nation" is at once exquisitely painful and astonishingly immense, traversing nearly an hour in it's quest to exemplify the Swedish metal technique and merge it with American metalcore's intensity. John Henry's putrid vocal spasms tear at your flesh with blood-thirsty intent, all the while cavorting amidst labyrinthine guitars and thunderous percussion. Mike Schleibaum and Kris Norris (recalling the At The Gates' Bjorler/Larsson combo) execute dynamic guitar symphonies that contort into massive metal riffs flawlessly, crafting an album that relies heavily on their talent with little hesitation. This duo helps thrust cuts like "Pay Phones and Pills", "Marching To The Killing Rhythm" and "Accessible Losses" to atmospheric heights, highlighting the album with their outstanding chemistry.

Darkest Hour find assistance from a bevy of reputable names such as Tomas Lindberg (At The Gates) and Anders Bjorler (At The Gates/The Haunted), yet never do they allow these icons to overshadow their own determination. Rather than assimilate the aforementioned acts' signature sound, Darkest Hour adhere to their own vision and force their guests to mold their abilities accordingly. The collaboration with Soilwork's Peter Winchers and The Crown's Marcus Sunesson results in the album closing epic "Veritas, Aequitas", an instrumental that leaves you panting in jubilant exhaustion.

There are certain elements that don't coalesce with the album as smoothly as one could hope for (most notably in Ryan Parrish's drumming, which occasionally seems off-tempo), and after repeat listens the album loses it's vibrant luster, yet overall "Hidden Hands Of A Sadist Nation" is Darkest Hour's most exhilarating album to date. With this coup detat, these metalcore mavens have cemented their epitaph in the hallowed halls of metal majesty, inching closer then ever to claiming the Gothenburg crown as their own - even if they hail from the unlikely location of Virginia.