Spread the Disease's latest album, The Darkness. The Dread. The Suffering., is a reunion that sparks curiosity among fans of their earlier, more frenetic work. The album, released in 2026, marks a departure from their maximalist, mathy style, opting for a more straightforward blend of second-wave black metal and 2000s metalcore. While the band's determination to play it angrily is commendable, the result is a record that, in my opinion, falls short of the caustic vitriol of their youth. The album's formula, established by the opener 'Light Opaque', is a mix of meaty tremolo passages and classic At the Gates riffing, but the longer runtimes could have yielded more standout moments. The band does make efforts to enhance album flow with interludes and a shift in the blackened hardcore milieu on the B-side, but these additions don't quite elevate the overall experience. The individual performances are strong, and tracks like 'Summer Wanes' and 'Gods and Politics' demonstrate a well-considered take on the sound, but the album as a whole lacks the oomph and considered songwriting needed to tie everything together. Personally, I find the album to be an intriguing piece of blackened hardcore, with plenty of fun ideas, but it's missing that certain spark that would make it truly memorable. Despite this, it's undeniably cool to hear Spread the Disease sounding this venomous after so many years. In my opinion, the album is a nasty reunion, but not quite a triumphant one. Rating: 2.5/5.0. DR: 7. Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3. Label: Hypaethral Records. Websites: spreadthedisease.bandcamp.com, instagram.com/spreadthedisease_official. Releases Worldwide: July 10th, 2026.
