While I like War Of Ages' later works, their debut is, unfortunately, highly repetitive and generic, using loads of gallop-riffing as the main rhythmic tool. The lead work is decent and the solos are fairly good, but the same rhythmic and melodic ideas are employed song after song, especially during the verses and breakdowns. Most songs are slight variations of the following formula: chugging gallop riffs, alternating metalcore screams and hardcore/punk spoken word vocals, overlayed with semi-melodic lead guitar; the tempo then significantly slows down as a note is allowed to ring before beginning a long breakdown session in which the melody drops; the tempo rises as the solo then ensues, dropping back into another breakdown session at the end. This is a very breakdown heavy album, which is unfortunate only because of the slowed tempos and unoriginality of the breakdowns, compounded by the fact that the melodic segments demonstrate far greater aptitude.
If you're just looking for some brutal music to accentuate your angst or are dedicated to listening to solely Christian artists, this may be a justifiable purchase, but those looking for sophistication, technicality, or songwriting may want to look elsewhere. Unless strongly in one of these camps, I recommend giving each song a listen, and just picking up the highlights.
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