I remember, back in my trading days, that the Italian Death Metal scene was rather small but amazingly good. I never understood why some bands were not as known as they should’ve been. My best guess? The underground’s focus turned to the blooming NWOSDM and Florida / NY scenes. Anyway, for years I have been following some Death Metal bands from this European country, DEAD TWILIGHT being one of them. They caught my attention with their first two albums (2015 and 2020 respectively). And now they have released “Fall Of Humanity”, their third album and first under the French label Great Dane Records. The band was formed by the Bellante brothers: Luca (guitars, bass and drum programming) and Marco (vocals). They have been the driving force since its inception back in 2004, with only two line-up changes in the bass position. Although released five years apart, their first two albums had a more straightforward approach, combining slow Doom-ish segments with intense blast beat parts. Both sounded similar and one could more or less know what to expect. “Fall Of Humanity” preserves their basic style but also introduces a logic evolution, especially in the writing department. The songs are better constructed and more varied. There are a lot of memorable riffs, interesting shifts in tempo, dissonance and Marco’s best vocal performance to date. “Fall Of Humanity” showcases an upgrade overall and highlights their skills as musicians in every aspect. I really liked the production. It is massive but not overdone. As said before, Marco’s growls are better articulated and way more profound. The bass tone is deep and crunchy, supporting perfectly the thick yet clear guitar tone. And the use of programmed drums never takes away from the listening experience. Actually, I think they sound pretty organic compared to some overproduced stuff that I’ve heard recently. The mix is well balanced and the effective mastering highlights the nuances and dynamics found in some of these songs with a good amount of ’90s atmosphere. Despite my hate for comparisons in my reviews, I could say that this album has hints of DEICIDE’s and INCANTATION’s early works and a late VADER vibe without being a rip off at all. A great Death Metal album from a great Death Metal band. I am already looking forward to their next release. Follow the band at www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063717426449 and get their album from the label: www.facebook.com/greatdanerecords