Among the things that happened in the mean time and between time, Lost Soul started to play longer songs. The average time for each of their first two records is around 35 minutes. This sucker creeps in right at 46 minutes and pretty much kills from the word go. Oh, there is nothing here essential to the genre in terms of redefining Death Metal or anything like that, but that doesn’t mean it is not worthy of your time. Oh, sure, Vader (and then Behemoth [followed by Decapitated {who come before The Yattering}]) are Poland’s favorite sons, but Lost Soul shred in their own right. Kinda like Sinister of The Netherlands, in fact. If you know what I mean, you know. If not, well, check out “Hate.”

A major debt is owed to Morbid Angel and Vader, who themselves owe a check or two to Azagthoth and crew, but some originality within this oft-tired genre exists, too. The strongest songs are achieved past the midway point of the album. “The Hidden Law” crushes with a malevolent riff that is a bit slower than most of the uptempo madness that precedes in their standard style. The lead guitar in this song and some of the accents on the main riff pay homage to Immolation’s Bob Vigna, whether intended or not.

“Mortal Cage” follows with a massive bout of blastbeat, riffing, and vocals that recall Kataklysm, which is then trailed by the oozing, opening riff on “Christian Meat” that again invokes Immolation -- had they created Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man.” The bulk of the secondary riff in this song could have been penned by Napalm Death, particularly in their less Grind moments, but I digress. Lost Soul starts this album off slowly, not in terms of speed, but finishes in fine form. Name-dropping aside, this is some fine Death Metal in the still not dead anti-Christian vein. Check ‘em out if you need a fix. Y’know, in that same, undead vein.

written by Tony Belcher

Playing time: 45.56