What makes In Darkness by Varials notable?

The album debuted at number 3 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, marking a significant milestone for Varials. Its exploration of darker themes resonated with fans and critics alike, leading to increased visibility within the heavy music community and contributing to the band's reputation as a rising force in metalcore. In Darkness is Varials' sophomore album, following their debut, Pain Again, released in 2017. By 2019, the band was solidifying their presence in the metalcore scene, building on their earlier success and expanding their sound.

How many songs are on In Darkness?

In Darkness has 15 tracks, running approximately 41 minutes.

Released 7 years ago this October

In Darkness

Varials · 2019

41 min · 15 tracks

Aggressive riffs and raw vocals collide with introspective lyrics, creating an intense atmosphere of emotional struggle and resilience.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Wound — This opening track sets the tone with its unrelenting energy and visceral lyrics about pain and suffering, immediately capturing the listener's attention.
→
I Suffocate — This track combines aggressive instrumentation with deeply personal lyrics, showcasing Varials' ability to balance heaviness with emotional depth.
→
In Darkness — The title track encapsulates the album's theme of confronting inner demons while delivering a relentless sonic experience that mirrors the lyrical content.
→
Deathsong — This penultimate track features a powerful climax that highlights the band's growth in songwriting and vocal delivery, leaving a lasting impact.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

46 /100

Foothills

Higher than 10% of albums we've rated

The album combines intense instrumentation with introspective lyrics, creating a solid but somewhat conventional metalcore experience.

What we noticed

The first three tracks feature aggressive guitar riffs and raw vocals, establishing a high-energy intensity that characterizes the album's opening.
Several tracks incorporate interludes with ambient soundscapes, creating moments of reflection amidst the heavier instrumentation.
The lyrics often shift between personal introspection and broader themes of struggle, enhancing the emotional weight of the vocal delivery.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 5/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Wound 3:57
2 I Suffocate 4:01
3 In Darkness 2:38
4 Bleeding 2:44
5 (Fear) 0:43
6 South of One 2:44
7 Romance 2:22
8 Obstacle III 3:27
9 I Against I 3:18
10 Splinter 2:58
11 The Love Machine 2:53
12 (Save Room) 1:49
13 Deathsong 3:19
14 (Untitled) 0:46
15 Maze 3:36

What to play next

Go back to

Pain Again

2017

Full Varials discography Artists like Varials

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata