NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – September 16, 2026
SF Bay Area Thrashers ABSOLUTE DARKNESS New Video “Snake Oil” Exposes The Opioid Crisis
Sophomore Album “Witness To A Dying World” Out Oct 2026
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L-R- Orson Sojo – Bass, Ron Dorn – Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocals, Scott Russell – Drums, Douglas Vetter II – Lead Guitar/Backup Vocals
Photo Credit by Eddie Granillo
San Francisco Bay Area death/thrash metal band Absolute Darkness has released “Snake Oil,” the second single from their forthcoming sophomore album, “Witness To A Dying World,” due out on October 23rd, 2026.
“Snake Oil” follows the band’s first single, “Attritional Warfare” (also available below). The first single set a high bar with a hybrid animated/live‑action video containing over two minutes of original animation.
“It was by far the biggest video project we’ve ever taken on… We wanted to create something that complemented the song and helped tell its story,” says vocalist and guitarist Ron Dorn.
This second glimpse into the band’s new album marks the first full‑song contribution from lead guitarist Douglas Vetter II, blending the band’s signature aggressive thrash with dynamic, breathing sections that heighten the emotional weight of the lyrics from him and Dorn.
“Man, there is so much to this song. Snake oil was pretty much the outside poison (addictive painkillers) that affected my world growing up. Family members on pain management, and me, as a kid, making myself as small as possible. Losing one of my best friends and not being able to be there. The lead-in to it is literally the best way my heart could sing to him and say goodbye, and I miss him. And how all this has poured over me as I try to raise a family and keep it together because of what this poison does to people. That’s what snake oil is to me. There is help out there for people who need it, and this song is to shed light on a much bigger problem that people choose to turn a blind eye to, the opioid crisis,” adds Vetter II.
The band chose a lyric‑video format for the single, but with a cinematic approach, spending a lot of time finding stock footage that matched the story they wanted to tell and visuals that carried the song rather than simply accompanying it.
“Snake Oil” is available now as a lyric‑driven visual experience at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGU2h8LqiKM
Bandcamp – https://absolutedarkness1.bandcamp.com/track/snake-oil
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Absolute Darkness’ second full‑length album, “Witness To A Dying World,” deepens their blend of Bay Area thrash and modern death metal, pushing harder into aggressive riffs, layered harmonies, standout solos, and a sharpened sense of social commentary. Lyrically, it confronts corruption, propaganda, authoritarianism, war, addiction, homelessness, and social decay, all told through character‑driven narratives rather than direct lectures, giving the album both impact and humanity. The new record also marks a major milestone for Absolute Darkness; it’s the first album written entirely by the current lineup from the ground up, with every member contributing meaningfully to the songwriting process
“This is an album Absolute Darkness wanted to make for a long time… It finally feels like a complete band effort. Not because it’s heavier or faster than our previous releases, but because everyone contributed to the songwriting in one way or another, and I think that made every song better,” adds Dorn.
The album will also feature a faithful, modernized cover of “World In A World” by Bay Area thrash legends Vio‑lence, paying tribute to the scene that has shaped the band.
Since forming in 2015, Absolute Darkness has continually sharpened both their sound and their production approach. Their 2022 debut full‑length, “Failure Of State,” marked a major leap forward in songwriting and overall sonic quality. Now, with their upcoming sophomore album, “Witness To A Dying World,” the band pushes that evolution even further, delivering high‑energy, aggressive metal while telling character‑driven stories meant to make listeners think as much as they headbang.
Recommended for fans of Testament, Vio-lence, Exodus, At The Gates, The Crown, and Amon Amarth, “Witness To A Dying World” will be available on October 23rd, 2026. Album pre-sale begins October 1st.
First Single:
Animated video – “Attritional Warfare” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbh5jvhBQtQ
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Track Listing:
1. Above The Law – 3:56
2. Attritional Warfare – 3:50
3. World Decay – 3:28
4. Snake Oil – 4:14
5. Different Illegally – 3:33
6. Loyalty To Me – 3:32
7. I Guess I Die – 3:59
8. Big Lies – 3:51
9. Extreme Accountability – 3:34
10. World In A World (Vio-lence Cover) – 4:13
Album Length: 38:21
Band Lineup:
Ron Dorn – Guitar/Lead Vocals
Douglas Vetter II – Lead Guitar/Backup Vocals
Orson Sojo – Bass
Scott Russell – Drums
More info:
https://www.facebook.com/BandAbsoluteDarkness
https://www.instagram.com/absolutedarkness_band/
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“Combining death/thrash influences… stronger production values that hopefully will garner more buzz and attention.” – Dead Rhetoric (Failure Of State 2022)
“Part album, part call to arms… a rabble-rousing affair and a slamming indictment of modern-day society.” – The Headbanging Moose (Failure Of State 2022)
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