Band:	Dark Age
Album:	Minus Exitus
Style:	Gothenburg metal, Metalcore
Release date:	February 22, 2008
A review by:	Jeff

01. Minus Exitus
02. Black September
03. Outside The Inside
04. The Dying Art of Recreation
05. Exit Wounds
06. Seven
07. -
08. No Way Home
09. Cold
10. Instrumental
11. Life For Blood
12. The Echoes Discipline
13. Children Of The Revolution [Japanese lyrics version] [Japanese bonus]

"Minusexitus" is already the fifth album of the German Metalcorers of Dark Age. Influenced by bands like In Flames and Dark Tranquillity but also by the American side of the so called Melodic Death Metal, Dark Age is not a bad combo. Well for sure they're not really original and definitely a bit mainstream but all in all, their music doesn't hurt and it's not so bad to listen to it in the end.

With "Minusexitus", we're probably at the paroxysm of the melodic side of Gothenburg Death Metal. It's probably even a mistake to say that Dark Age is a band which plays this kind of music because even if they're from Germany their music really sounds American. That's right it's definitely mainstream and really Metalcore on a side. The songs all have those powerful melodic riffs that we can find in Gothenburg Death Metal music but the choruses (in general with clean vocals) are really "radio" if you see what I mean. Some of you will say that it's not Death Metal, and you know what, they're just right but if you're not looking for some complex and deep music and just want to listen to catchy music, "Minusexitus" will be a must for you. The riffs are good, the songs aren't bad at all, it's a bit easy that's right but all in all it's not so displeasing to listen to this album.

The two voices (Death and clean) of Eike Freese aren't bad at all and the other musicians aren't loosers too. The production of "Minusexitus" is really good and can be compared to the best prod of the genre, actually the only problem of "Minusexitus" is that this release is a bit easy and not original too. Plus, let's be honest, the sound of "Minusexitus" is even a bit poppy but I don't know why, it's not terrible to listen to this release so after all, in the genre, that's probably not so bad!

"Minusexitus" is maybe all but not new but at least the songs of this new release are all really catchy. Sure, that's mainstream music, sure there are a lot of better bands than Dark Age but at least, they're not only trying to copy someone. Their sound is really similar to a lot of other bands, no doubt but at least they know how to play this kind of music. If you use to listen to Metalcore and need your dose of headbanging, have a look on "Minusexitus", this album will be perfect to pass a good moment.