Review Summary: Too much wine during this review? Perhaps. A WAY solid Heavy Metal album? You're Goddamn right!
Hey. it's Friday! We're doing this one song to song, first reactions...don't expect Shakespeare. No need for a long lead in....it's Heavy....it's Metal....LET'S ***IN' GO!
Inferna - (9)
ALRIGHT! An absolutely filthy ***IN' groove that hits like the most vilely amazing riff from Nevermore’s old back pocket propels this masterpiece. The pace stays pretty deliberate, with vocals ranging from caustic to contemplative, but the dynamics swing all over this thing like George of the Jungle. Even if it does eventually wear out its welcome a bit, this is about as perfect an initial burn as you could ask for. Epic yet immediate...fantastic song craft.
2. Bloodhound - (7.5)
First off, this goddamn demolition derby collides immediately with an intro that sounds like the drummer is (BY GOD) playing TRIPLE-Bass for crissakes! Where do these kids get it?? This is ready-for-prime time modern Death Metal with a grooving nod to IOWA era Slipknot, certainly on the outer edges of intensity in respect to yesteryear’s Nu Metal era.
3. Inside The Waves - (6)
Stock ratta-tat-tat riffs that host a tired batch of start/stop dynamics with half-assed Death vox, feeling somewhere in between the lifeless middle ground that exists between Lamb of God and Linkin Park. “Lamb of Park”? “Linkin of God”? Nope….the mixture doesn’t work regardless of how you stir it up.
4. The Tales of War - (7.5)
A dramatic bit of unecessary Symphony X stuff sets the scene for pure propulsion Peddle-to-the-METAL density that could stop an avalanche in its tracks. If you don’t bang your head to the build up of this sinister minister, you might as well destroy your old Quiet Riot albums! The meat of this matter twists and churns between high octane Deathened Thrash and a stangely intoxicating chorus that doesn’t sell out to the usual Pop pandering, but plays instead with a ear wormed leaden Gothic groove thang. Don’t ask….I’m a bottle and a half of cheap Cabernet into this thing and we’re only on song FOUR! I like this song!
5. Hydra -(7)
A riff like Paul Bunyan chopping sequoias, the attitude of saying “*** it….we’re gonna Death Groove SO GOOD that Club girls MIGHT consider shaking their asses to it.”. If that’s controversial, put me in “The Iron Maiden”. I dunno, but this thing has some genuine SWAGGER to it, aight? Just call it “Sad But True” for a generation that will forget about it 5 minutes later and call it a day.
6. Nerve- (7)
A Swedish Melo-Death excursion circa 2010 Soilwork….which is no knock because I LOVE that ***! This rocks just fine even if it’s clearlystealing a pie out of the window.
7. Death Above All - (6.5)
Aka "Death(core) Above All"…yeah…there are no pleasantries to be found here….this thing THUMPS like Andre The Giant in flip-flops…taking out bugs, humans….cities. If subtlety could be mocked, this is its bully; 5 and a half minutes of Ministry circa “The Land of Rape and Honey” repetition, using monotony as its weapon…proving to be HEAVIER than Sabbath could ever dream, even if it amounts to a fraction of the traction.
8. The Storm - (6)
A stab at some epic Power Metal sing-a-long with that there guitar line trying to get lighters waving…..but it ultimately annoys more than inspires. As it goes on it pushes further and further towards Valhalla. Me, I’m inspired to hear the next song. I mean, this has conviction. Who knows…..the Ohh Ohhh Ohhh might catch on to my ultimate embarrassment.
Neural Collapse - (9)
The first few minutes here are as lethal a Death Groove situation as I’ve found myself in for quite awhile. Approving nod from me! The bridge and chorus are PERFECTLY dispatched, adding a vintage Metalllica Thrash component to this pummeling brilliance….the music does a complete 180 into pensively dark atmosphere, this track proving to be full of surprises….allowing us to catch our breath before attacking again.
10. The Path I Walk
Smart….plaintive….emotional….I’m not as moved by the melodrama as others will be. But this is an intelligent and well executed coda to a very good album…ending on a high note of original pomp and circumstance that might grab the right ears to claw further into this feast.
