Downswing - ‘And Everything Was Dark’ Album Review
Consistency in the Chaos: Downswing Hit a New Peak on ‘And Everything Was Dark’
There’s a specific kind of grit that only comes from life on the road: the long drives, the late nights, the loading bays, the shared moments between bands trying to carve out something real. I crossed paths with Downswing on a short tour run earlier this year while shooting for another band, and even in those few days, one thing stood out above everything else, they are remarkably consistent. The same intensity they put into their sets night after night is the same intensity that bleeds into And Everything Was Dark, a record that feels like the band finally sharpening their identity into something unmistakably their own.
Downswing has always occupied the darker end of metalcore and hardcore, but this album pushes them into a heavier, more emotionally articulate direction. The production feels thicker and more intentional, the songwriting more focused, and the performances give the impression of a band that knows exactly what they want to say both sonically and lyrically.
The standout tracks form the emotional anchor of the album. “Emptiness Remains” might be the strongest piece of writing the band has released to date in my opinion. The lyrics cut in a way that feels honest without relying on cliché. A reflection of loss, self-doubt, and the quiet desperation that lingers long after the noise dies down. It’s the kind of track that hits harder the more you sit with it.
“Serpent” showcases the band’s rhythmic strengths. Nick commands the drums without being overproduced, driving the song with a sense of urgency that sets it apart from the record’s other heavy moments. It’s a track that mirrors their live energy: relentless, tight, and full of bite.
Meanwhile, “Thanks For Nothing” leans fully into its breakdowns, delivering the kind of cathartic release that metalcore fans show up for. It’s violent, it’s satisfying, and it lands with the weight of a band that understands the power of restraint and explosion.
Lyrically, the album sits at the intersection of emotional burnout, personal reckoning, and the lingering feeling that life’s darkest moments come without warning. It’s bleak, but not hopeless. Heavy, but not numb. There’s a sense of looking inward and clawing out of something that was supposed to swallow you whole. The emotional palette is familiar for the genre, but Downswing executes it with enough authenticity and craft that it feels lived-in rather than performative.
A huge part of what elevates this record is Harrison’s performance. His delivery feels sharper and more emotionally grounded than ever. It’s raw without losing control, and aggressive without sacrificing clarity. Whether he’s leaning into guttural heaviness on “Serpent” or channeling a more vulnerable edge on “Emptiness Remains,” Harrison carries the emotional weight of the album with a conviction that feels lived-in rather than performed. It’s the kind of vocal presence that defines a band’s identity, and here, it pushes Downswing into a new tier.
If there’s a critique to be made, it’s minor: some transitions between songs feel abrupt, and a couple of tracks dip slightly into the stylistic territory the band has already explored. But these are small blemishes on what is otherwise their most cohesive work yet. And Everything Was Dark feels like Downswing leveling up, not reinventing themselves, but refining the core of who they are.
What impressed me most, both on tour and on this record, is the band’s commitment. Downswing doesn’t phone anything in. This album sounds like the product of a group who have grinded through real exhaustion, real doubt, and real life and have chosen to put all of it into their art. It’s raw, heavy, emotional, and honest. It’s what metalcore is supposed to feel like.
With And Everything Was Dark, Downswing cements themselves as a band worth paying very close attention to. This is their most complete statement yet. And it’s only the beginning.
