Sunny southern California would seem like an unlikely place for utterly bleak and hopeless death metal to emanate from. But it makes more sense when you consider Draghkar's roots in the black metal scenes of sun-soaked Italy and Greece, or for that matter the Floridian origins of the earliest death metal, which clearly this band has also absorbed. With these influences, as well as a healthy infusion of the old Finnish gods, Draghkar is proud to unleash their debut full-length, At the Crossroads of Infinity. Through six tracks and around a 35 minute runtime, the band hews closely to their purpose: pummeling riffs and pounding rhythms that sear themselves into the brain, and monstrous vocals that send a shiver down the spine. The band acquits itself with confidence here, their best and most polished material following the obligatory run of demos, splits, and EPs. Clearly their time in the trenches, as well as sharing members with other bands like Drawn and Quartered, has made them formidable.
