# DARKO Blast Toxic Masculinity In “What I Cannot Be”

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/darko-blast-toxic-masculinity-in-what-i-cannot-be/
- Published: 2023-11-27T15:08:46-06:00
- Author: Eugene Tierney

### **Darko blast Toxic Masculinity in “What I Cannot Be”**

**[Stream The Video Here](https://email.cloud.secureclick.net/c/6813?id=20480271.53074.1.20592be8a14fada867a545ee02718fb4)**

**[Stream The New Single Here](https://email.cloud.secureclick.net/c/6813?id=20480271.53075.1.10fa47134107199731fe852feae756c0)**

_“…genre-defying…You better strap in and hold on tight… premium grade top shelf 
rock.”- **The Whole Kameese**_

_“They pack enormous energy into these relentlessly powerful tracks. …rest assured,
Darko are better than ever.”- **Jersey Beat**_

UK punks **Darko** unveil an impassioned new single and video, “What I Cannot Be,”
today, marrying their signature blistering speed with the controlled frenzy of The
Dillinger Escape Plan or Converge.

DARKO - What I Cannot Be (Official Video)

[⌊DARKO - What I Cannot Be (Official Video)⌉⌊DARKO - What I Cannot Be (Official 
Video)⌉
Watch this video on YouTube

_“Melodic skate punk will always be in the DNA of Darko, but sometimes it just isn’t
angry enough for the subject matter”,_ frontman Tom West said of the striking departure
from the band’s established sound.

“What I Cannot Be” kicks off the upcoming 5 track “Greyscale”. Producer Will Duff
of Goliath Studios returns to the desk for the nihilistic second chapter of a trilogy
preceded by 2022’s genre-bending “Sparkle”.

Across the pummeling two-minute new single, West savagely condemns “Neanderthal 
hardmen” and traditional expectations of masculinity.

_“Having focused on how the patriarchy principally harms women and marginalised 
genders in Sparkle’s opener “The Ladder”, this time around I needed to vent about
the significant toll it also takes on men and boys”_, explains West.

[⌊Darko single cover⌉⌊Darko single cover⌉[

_“Being pushed into boxes based on redundant stereotypes hurts everyone.”_

**Catch the Band on tour in Europe in December.**

 * Nov 30th – Wermelskirchen, DE @ Ajz Bahndamm Wermelskirchen *
 * Dec 1st – Oostende, BE @ TBC
 * **Dec 2nd – Den Haag, NL @ Musicon**
 * Dec 4th – Munich, DE @ Backstage Munich +
 * Dec 5th – Hradec Králové, CZ @ AC Klub
 * Dec 6th – Vienna, AT @ rhiz Vienna
 * Dec 7th – Bodenmais, DE @ Rote Res Bodenmaiss

 * w/ Drunktank, Mainline 10 & Venturas
 * * w/ Drunktank and Main Line 10
 * + w/ Melonball & Captain Asshole

**About DARKO:**
Over a raucous decade, DARKO have by definition, become veterans
of the UK Punk scene and it is not uncommon to see them standing as an essential
name within the intricate and complex world of contemporary Punk and Hardcore.

The band, urgent and charged with conviction, are set to continue championing and
contributing to the health of the very scene that birthed them as they pen the narrative
of their new chapter.

In 2020, longtime voicebox Dan Smith returned to his native Australia and parted
ways with the band after so long in the vox seat. Dan’s evocative, emphatic and 
emotional lyricisms have left quite the legacy throughout the band’s releases. Darko’s
four other noisemakers have curated a backdrop of vicious, hybridised Skate Punk
and Melodic Hardcore that has been pushed beyond itself across thirty countries.

[⌊Darko⌉⌊Darko⌉[

Darko have now enlisted longtime touring compadre Tom West of UK shredders, Almeida.
The band have never hid from what ails them or the society they inhabit but with
West at the vocal helm now and forgoing the complacent societal padding forced upon
us all, his lyrical discomfort has spurred the band’s most unbarred barrage yet.

There is nothing hidden here, nothing soaked in distracted metaphor or softened 
non-confrontational rhetoric, Darko are making full use of their scene privilege
and challenging people who look akin to them to unleash their own salvos. But what
of the backing? These are stops that have also been beyond pulled.

Darko’s evolution is tied to their past but with threads so long that there is an
abundance of slack to play with. Notes of Polar Bear Club, Mastodon, A Wilhelm Scream,
Protest The Hero, Rise Against and Propagandhi can all be savoured in their contemporary
flavour profile.

Serrated, lacerating Thrash and metallic digressions contrast the meandering guitar
lines rooted in Skate Punk classicism. Writhing, emotive and complicated Post-Hardcore
structures supplement the “techy” displays they are known for as an overarching 
and indisputably Punk-charged Prog-aesthetic allows the versatile and varied vocal
range to seamlessly traverse the entirety.

Rob, Chris, Karl, Andy and now Tom have come together to the highest degree, poised
and proud to show you a reimagined, powerful and determined Darko.

**What people are saying**
“Melodic and heavy, fast and intricate, Darko plays furious
melodic hardcore in incendiary live shows.” – **FRONT Magazine**

‘They’ve got the skills and imagination to make this a heart-racing listen… check
out Darko right now’ – **Big Cheese**

“Alright, let’s just get this out there for everyone: this band is composed of some
SERIOUS rippers.” – **Dying Scene**

“Darko match A Wilhelm Scream act perfectly for on-stage energy, shredability and
a hard-working but fun attitude. Darko never give less than 110% live and they always
have the best time doing it.” – **Shout Louder**

‘Techy skate-punk for fans of Belvedere and Strung Out’ – **Rock Sound**

**Darko are:**
Tom West – VocalsRob Piper – Guitar / Backing VocalsChris Brown –
Guitar / Backing VocalsKarl Sursham – Bass / Backing VocalsAndy Borg – Drums

**Social Media:[Instagram](https://email.cloud.secureclick.net/c/6813?id=20480271.53078.1.7d765adbb471aadf0429fd6b1c525293)
| [Facebook](https://email.cloud.secureclick.net/c/6813?id=20480271.53079.1.fad8c8d6fb26aefb83aa2ff57a65f9b2)
| [Twitter](https://email.cloud.secureclick.net/c/6813?id=20480271.53080.1.ed48906491a8c87bb24026b384bab623)
| [Youtube](https://email.cloud.secureclick.net/c/6813?id=20480271.53081.1.e2fd16c6b521fbfde279e99db417f209)

[⌊Thousand Islands Records⌉⌊Thousand Islands Records⌉[

**[Thousand Islands Records](https://email.cloud.secureclick.net/c/6813?id=20480271.53082.1.f6bed7150a4faa8d8665879d2356132e)**

[⌊Lockjaw Records⌉⌊Lockjaw Records⌉[

[**Lockjaw Records**](https://email.cloud.secureclick.net/c/6813?id=20480271.53083.1.92b6ec250e194bf0fbf16a831cfe7be1)

[⌊Earshot Media⌉⌊Earshot Media⌉[

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