REVIEW: Dark Secret – ‘Mind Pollution’

After originally breaking through with their stunning self-titled debut EP back in 2021, Cleveland, Ohio’s Dark Secret instantly established themselves as one of the more raucous additions to the modern metal scene. Taking their cues from the classic era but managing to rebrand it for a modern ear, the band’s tenure has been filled with this flurry of impactful outings, all looking to build upon what has come before. And with that initial buzz still continuing to climb, they are back once again with their eagerly-awaited debut album ‘Mind Pollution’, a record that cements their dynamic legacy of late.

Featuring the standout offering ‘Patriarchs Of Science’, released earlier this year, ‘Mind Pollution’ looks to project itself as a raw and driven rock release, one that hooks you in and never lets you go. Bringing back more of that bold and tenacious aesthetic they first arrived with, this new nine-track collection finds them in a brilliantly inventive guise as they look to unleash a powerful array of killer anthems that all add something new and interesting to their ever-evolving aesthetic to date.

As far as introductions go, ‘Mind Pollution’ sets itself as one of the more intense debut releases we have heard so far this year. Brimming with this wildly and energetic flair for explosive hooks at every turn, Dark Secret continue that bold and eruptive reputation they have so thoroughly deserved in recent years.