Review: “Dark Reign” by No Kings Allowed

A band who have many strings to their bow, No Kings Allowed channel chaos and catharsis into their sound as evidenced with previous albums “Dethroned” and “A New Era” which both saw the cold light of day in 2024. The Netherlands–Belgium based collective have blended Deathcore, Metalcore and Nu-Metal with cinematic layers to forge their steel in  something that is both brutal yet emotional with new EP “Dark Reign” diving into themes of war, oppression and resistance. Is it possible that heaviness, honesty and rebirth can live within the confines of half an hour of power?

Giving a song a title like “Dark Reign” infers that its going to be something epic and grand and in all fairness No Kings Allowed give the title track of their latest burnt offering that kind of sound with an introduction of cinematic orchestration that has coral undertones. That helps create a spellbinding moment, providing crystal clear clarity for the mind before the spine juddering riffs begin. A savage unclean verse and some “Iowa” era Slipknot inspired riffage moves things forward before clean verse comes into play, offering tasteful contrast to the blood, thunder and stop of the tracks backbone. The lyrical narrative about living on the edge of society will resonate with all of those in the Metal community and the raw anger and angst that soaks through in the vocal performance has that grit and integrity that means you know its real. Those cinematic textures chemically enhance “The Day Of Reckoning“, a cut front loaded with staccato riff breaks before a bright, bold clean chorus that is in stark contrast to the brutal verse. The bands use of additional percussion instruments adds more depth, the dark and brooding sounds escaping the guitars matching those portrayed by the vocalists. In all honesty there is very little to identify them as being from anywhere except America, such is the nature of the vocal performances and the violin at the end of this one gives it that dance macabre quality. A sample from a propaganda movie about War in 1944 introduces “Fated to Die” in style, the band using it as a metaphor for the fight of humanity against modern day oppressors. What works about it is that its lyrically open enough for the listener to make it their own and with the guitars having that satisfying crunch to them it’s also a call to the pit.

A haunting piano melody gives “Rotten To The Core” a horror movie vibe before the band go straight Death Metal with blast beats, shrill and death growled screams and chunky chugs, slowing for a powerful chorus as the piano rises like a psychopaths knife once more. The flow of the track is superb with a mid cut ethereal moment building to a pile driver of a breakdown as the vocalists rant and rave about the mess that greedy corporations and corrupt politicians have made of the world around us, destroying the earth and humanity’s soul in the process. “Hell On Earth” reinforces the narrative with verve and swagger packing a groove laden punch with melancholic overtones as it depicts the pain of war. A fearsome Deathcore breakdown into blast beats and vocals inspired by Slam is arguably the heaviest moment on the record, the band allowing the extremes in their sound to push in either direction without letting go of their roots. Ensuring that this record goes down as half an hour of power while fulfilling the cliche that is all killer, no filler No Kings Allowed pull the pin on the hand grenade that is “Homesick” an angry anthem soaked in melancholia with yet more brutal Deathcore blood and thunder about it. The dynamics and atmospherics have been nailed as has the mix and at this point it has to be said that this band have reached the height of their game [8.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Dark Reign
2. The Day Of Reckoning
3. Fated to Die
4. Rotten To The Core
5. Hell On Earth
6. Homesick

“Dark Reign” by No Kings Allowed is out 10th October 2025 and is available over at bandcamp