Album Review: On Borrowed Time – In The Dark Before The Dawn (Omen Records)

Melodic hardcore heavyweights On Borrowed Time will release their new album ‘In the Dark Before the Dawn’, on May 29th, 2026, via Omen Records.

I love it when a record is so good, it makes you an instant fan, which is what In the Dark Before the Dawn has managed to do. It’s a bright, brilliant, and brash showcase of modern melodic hardcore that comes from the soul. On Borrowed Time might genuinely be one of the best doing it right now and across the ten tracks of this record, they grab attention by the scruff of the neck and refuse to let go.

A major reason as to why I think the record is so absorbing comes from the fact that it takes a very different approach to the sound. Daringly so, in fact, and all the proof of that statement comes very early on courtesy of the potent instrumental opener that is Twilight and the following banger that is Burden.

Beginning in very rocky fashion before transforming into an intense and noisy showcase of old-school hardcore with two-step beats and gang style shouts. Then, unexpectedly, the tempo drops and we get a spoken word recording as the guitar leads us back to an explosion of harmonised heaviness that has an epic twist. It’s a track that gets better with each subsequent listen.

With the bar set so high, it would be easy to believe that the only way is down now, but On Borrowed Time’s creative force is pretty much unstoppable here. Resulting in punchy and anthemic hardcore punk-infused efforts like Same Blood, incredibly passionate tracks like Solitude, and emotionally wrought post-hardcore listens like Faded. Each as good as the other, impressively varied, and with the kind of heartfelt ache that can only ever come from authenticity.

Have I mentioned that I love this record? It’s an album of the year contender and all because it leaves me feeling on the verge of tears, but also driven to two-step, sing, head bang, and hug someone.

Reset is something of an intermission, being only a minute and a half and another instrumental, except this one leaves me feeling wistful and nostalgic. Its placement is perfect though because it leads into Waiting for You (In the Dark Before the Dawn), which is one of the album’s most significant listens. Beginning in dramatic and sensitive fashion, before unleashing a cacophony of hardcore noise that should cause a bit of chaos at a show, then in an instant, reverting back to a more tender sound to end things.

It’s not over yet though and the quality of the record is kept at an impossibly high place thanks to Last Step and After all. Fiery instrumental passion, expressive lyric content and intense vocals. Delivered in an undeniably authentic way with Love Song wrapping things up style. Fast and furious, but with thick layers of melody and some potent guest vocals courtesy of Mark Betteridge.

It’s a brilliant latter part of a brilliant album overall that will live long in the memory. On Borrowed Time have gone above and beyond here, and the result is very special.

On Borrowed Time – In the Dark Before the Dawn Track Listing:

1. Twilight
2. Burden
3. Same Blood
4. Solitude
5. Faded
6. Reset
7. Waiting For You (In the Dark Before the Dawn)
8. Last Step
9. After All
10. Love Song (Feat. Mark Betteridge)

Links

Facebook | Instagram