“Make Believe” from Missouri rockers Dark Below heralds the further dawning of their considerable talents. The song was recorded at East Iris Studios in Nashville, TN with Producer Malcolm Springer (Matchbox 20, Collective Soul, Fear Factory, Josey Scott) at the helm, assisted by Jason Schrick. The trio of vocalist/guitarist Josh Campbell, bass player and backing vocalist Josh Grove, and drummer Quin Koldan is a solid lineup working together since 2016 and set to take the modern hard rock world by storm.
Influenced by such heavy hitters as Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle, and 10 Years, Dark Below has already racked up considerable miles opening for a variety of top-flight acts such as Saliva, Pop Evil, The Veer Union and Buckcherry, to name a few. It’s a sign of their talent that headliners such as these trust the young band to kick off their high-profile gigs and deliver the goods to audiences certain about what sort of music they want to hear.
“Make Believe” certainly fits the bill. The arrangement mixes staccato guitar and straight-ahead riffing over a rhythm section that packs quite a wallop. Dark Below, however, never follows a single path. Instead, they travel several musical avenues, including portions of the song where they pull back on the heavy riffing, and it diversifies the listening experience. This is a power trio that resolutely elbows paint-by-numbers rock at every turn.
The song’s subject matter breaks with typical hard rock histrionics. In brief, abbreviated lines well suited to their musical bent, Dark Below sings about imagination’s power to both redeem our lives and, as well, drop us in mental quicksand. They don’t weigh down their lyrics with pseudo-poetic flourishes but instead write about the subject without pretense. Attentive listeners will also note how Dark Below imbues the lyrics with a sense of community, as well, by acknowledging that all of us share such experiences.
Many modern hard rock fans will appreciate how Dark Below dispenses with many of the genre’s hoarier elements. There’s no chest-beating guitar solo tucked into the arrangement or predictable verse-chorus-verse format dragging the track down. Moreover, Dark Below does more with power chords than many other bands manage, and the song’s various shadings attest to their creativity.
The song’s video doesn’t bite off more than it can chew. Dark Below keeps things simple and direct, no nonsense or unnecessary pretentiousness. The evocative footage puts viewers at ground zero of a band performance and it compels you to want to see the band in concert. It’s invigorating to see the members put themselves “out there” with such conviction.
Accomplishing what they do in under three and a half minutes is impressive. Dark Below packs a varied musical world into a tight space without the song ever sounding cluttered or overwrought. “Make Believe” is lean, mean, and ready for action from the outset. The commitment the band throws behind every second of the song is convincing and will win over countless converts to their music.
Songs such as this will ensure Dark Below remains around for years to come. Everything about “Make Believe” suggests this is their intention rather than sounding like they are content writing and recording disposable fare. The wilds of central Missouri aren’t renowned for producing hard rock and metal bands, but Dark Below’s work will change that preconception. They are every bit as aggressive and skilled as any of their contemporaries from elsewhere. Their forthcoming full-length album, set to hit in the fall of 2023, promises to be one of the best hard rock releases in recent memory.
Dark Below – Tour Dates:
Friday, 7/14 – Rose Music Hall – Columbia, MO
Friday, 9/1 – Diamond Music Hall – Saint Peters, MO
Friday, 9/15 – The Majestic – Fort Smith, AR (w/Rehab)
Saturday, 9/16 – Foxhouse Bar & Grill – Palestine, TX (W/Rehab)
Friday, 9/22 – Sam’s Place – Crowley, LA (W/Scotty Austin)
Saturday, 9/23 – Fat Daddys – Mansfield, TX (W/Scotty Austin)
Sunday, 9/24 – The Deadhorse – San Angelo, TX (W/Scotty Austin)
Saturday, 10/7 – Mulligan’s Bar – Owensboro, KY
Chadwick Easton