Listening to this album in and of itself, the Kuusisto brothers could give the Amott's. a run for their money, though the focus is more on heavy than pretty. Arch Enemy anti-fans will know what that means. While crunchy riffs are the order of the day, there is enough variation to keep the non-initiate interested. Witness the acoustic intro to "Burning Eden" followed by blazing twin leads (and a lyrical reference to a Ratt song, perhaps?). "No Longer Bleeding," which might imply a drained victim, rules in an old school Thrash way, replete with a clean guitar intro, dissonant tones, punchy riffing, and fluid, harmonized leads. In other places touches of melody serve to pace and accompany the album's overall brutal stance.

If there is a singular complaint, it would be the largely one-dimensional vocals of Mortensen that run together. "Lost Legion" does offer an occasional Marco Aro-sounding harmonized treatment (see The Haunted's "Hollow Ground") and even some Death Metal growling to accompany pseudo-Slayer riffing. "Ante Mori," Latin for "before death," is the slowest song in sight and it closes the album in dramatic fashion, invoking mid-90s Slayer in a head-on collision with late-90s Swedish Death-Thrash and just a touch of groove. Great song. Solid album. Not the most original, no, but then again, since when has Metal needed to be original to be killer?

written by Tony Belcher

Playing time: 48.16