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I'm not great when it comes to remembering which city bands come from, but I know Cleveland, Ohio has always had an active and productive metal scene. Vanik is another entity to spring up from the shores of Lake Erie and Shadow Kingdom has picked up their second album of punk-tinged speed metal titled II Dark Season. Lyrically, Vanik dig the horror genre as titles like "Jack's Lantern" and "Beyond the Closet Door" can attest to and they even do a rambunctious cover of Hawkwind's "We Like to Be Frightened." Musically, Vanik play down-and-dirty rock and roll with punk and thrash influences but they always mind the melodies. It may sound like the instruments are about to fly off in different directions occasionally, but they rein it in at the last second. The songs on II Dark Season may be short with all 11 flying by in about half an hour, but your neck will feel every minute.