Jaw dropping. That's what Darkest Hour are: jaw dropping. Few bands can get close to them in terms of ethereal death metal. No matter what they do, they're just bloody epic. Epic, I tell you!

Their music bursts from the speakers and for the duration of their set, it is hard to let anything else occupy your mind apart from their breath taking mix of melodic and heaviness. Most of the songs are taken from their new album, Doomsayer, but the real highlights are, of course, "With a Thousand Words To Say But One" and "The Sadist Nation", the choice cuts from their two earlier albums.

The two guitarists trade riffs and solos, occasionally getting together to show off a fine piece – harmonies sweep picked riffs – whilst the bassist gives everything a heavy foundation with a surprising groove. Vocalist John Henry brings out his hardcore punk side and plays to the few punters clever enough to be present at the show (it has a sadly small audience). But the real key to the band is drummer Ryan Parrish.

Parrish, like many death metal drummers, never lets up on the double kick, but that's not what makes him special. It's his ability to create such a driving and massive drum sound, one that never seems to stop and rolls on and on into heaviness – that is what makes him special and he is the focal point of Darkest Hour that separates him from so many death metal bands.

The crowd maybe small and there may be some macho bullshit going around in the pit, but the sound is clear, Parrish pounds the kit and relentlessly drives the band. and Henry charms and coaxes the crowd. What more could you want? There's no other word for it: awesome.