Darkest Hour's second EP, 1999's The Prophecy Fulfilled, somehow managed to both refine and out-brutalize its impressive predecessor.

Heavier than real heavy...things, crushing highlights such as "The Choir of Prophecy Fulfilled" and "This Side of the Nightmare" basked in uncompromisingly ruthless death metal ferocity, while the slower passages heard on "Reflections of Ruin" and the especially malevolent "This Curse" were reminiscent of punishing Southern sludgecore.

And certainly most surprising of all was the presence of the quietly introspective acoustic guitar piece "Broken Wings (Part I)" and the synth and piano instrumental "Coda XIII," showing heretofore unknown creative range, and hinting at the band's more ambitious efforts yet to come.