To judge by his songs, Michael Dean Damron’s view on life is that it’s vicious and short. To be honest, I haven’t listened to this album too many times because I don’t exactly need extra nudges to feel dark and miserable right now. But even with only a couple of spins, When the Darkness Come has burrowed into my psyche. I’ve found myself quoting song lyrics without even realizing where they come from and the solemn percussion on the lead track, “Butcher,” drifts along the edge of my consciousness as I fall asleep.
Much like his (former?) band, I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House’s last release Mayberry, the album isn’t completely bleak. The last song, “Row,” is all about persevering through the pain. But the journey from point A to point B is pretty harrowing. And I guess that’s life, after all.