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Dark Arena: Worlds Of Horror
Dark Arena - Worlds Of Horror Album Art

Dark Arena: Worlds Of Horror

Heavy/Power/Thrash Metal
4.0/5.0

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Pure Steel Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 18.08.2021 | Released: 27.08.2021

The roots of American metal band Dark Arena go back to the mid-Nineties with various incarnations. But it was not until 2004 when Cleveland guitar wizard Paul Konjicija joined the band. The band would go on to release an EP and three long-players between 2006 and 2012. But a mere seven years later the band was marred by tragedy: Paul Konjicija died suddenly and unexpectedly in 2019. But his musical legacy remains. In 2018, prior to his death, Dark Arena recorded songs for a fourth studio album. Worlds of Horror will be released this month by Germany's Pure Steel Records, and features former vocalist Juan Ricardo (Wretch, Sunless Sky). (Currently, the band continues to soldier on with a new lineup, yet without a lead guitarist.)

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Dark Arena

The larger metal musical context of Dark Arena is a combination of classic heavy, power, and thrash metal with the guitar skills of Paul Konjicija at the forefront. With one exception, most songs are simply fast, heavy, and characterized by Konjicija's rhythmic and intense riffs and powerful solos. Between the riffs and speed many Dark Arena arrangement blurs the line between thrash and power metal. And have no doubt, Konjicija is quite the shredder, ripping off generous solos throughout. The favorite representatives of this formula would be likely be Bite The Bullet, Dark Arena, Worlds Of Horror, and the quite fast and intense Kill Procedure. Damnation Within finds vocalist Juan Ricardo offering some death vocals. Boring. The closing song Abandoned is the aforementioned exception to the rough and tumble metal being a softer tune with a combination of both acoustic and electric guitar. All in all, Dark Arena's Worlds Of Horror is a prime example of classic American heavy thrash metal in a contemporary context while, at the same time, honoring the memory of exceptional guitarist Paul Konjicija who passed in 2019.




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The Take Away

Dark Arena's Worlds Of Horror is a prime example of classic American heavy thrash metal in a contemporary context while, at the same time, honoring the memory of exceptional guitarist Paul Konjicija who passed in 2019.

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