Darkest Hour/Ringworm/Rotten Sound/Rivers of Nihil/Lower 13

Formed 20 years ago in Washington D.C., Darkest Hour remains one of the heaviest acts circulating in the metal core world. Produced by Kurt Ballou, its latest effort, Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora, might be its heaviest album yet. As its title implies, the songs reflect the current conflicts between humanity and nature. The intensity that runs through the songs on the album should translate to one helluva live show. (Niesel)