These brutal, grooving, catchy songs, which draw inspiration from thrash, rock, death metal and hardcore, are performed with skill (though in an ungentle manner) and very well crafted. The lyrics spew anger intelligently. Musically, Profane Omen project rage with wide-ranging forms of intensity. Relentless sonic violence of the purest kind is represented by "Gunshot/Mindset," one of the thrashiest tracks. Catchiness is of an in-your-face variety, never benign. In the slower parts of songs, which take their cue from the instrumental opener, the album's pervasive sinister tone is highlighted vividly. Most tracks embrace all of these modes and others. The complex, smoldering "Pit of My Thoughts" goes through numerous changes in style and tempo, starting off slow and ominous, then becoming battering, later shifting into a high-speed attack before ending on a quietly dark, eerie note.

Avoiding simplistic and predictable patterns of all types, Profane Omen alternate when and how they come at you the hardest, and use complex song structures. Inventive, well-integrated pre-choruses, bridges and interludes broaden the dimensions and heighten the distinctiveness of each track. Other individualizing factors are the diverse, effective opening hooks and closings, the latter usually involving some kind of striking departure. One of the most walloping endings, so thrilling that I wish they went out of it and back again, is that of "FMH" (Fuck Me Hollow), the album's most memorable song, in my opinion. The epitome of attitude-drenched infectiousness, this final assault combines the irresistible funky, grooving main riff with rousing screams and growls, brilliantly raising the already high levels of intensity and utter coolness built by everything that comes before: majestic verses, a super-aggressive multidimensional chorus, kickass interlude, and one of Jules Näveri's most impressive vocal performances.

The versatile Näveri does almost everything extremely well. Among his many styles is some of the best "growl-singing" I've ever heard: powerful, exceptionally fluent. His clean vocals can be deliciously deadly, especially when deep, as in "DHC," the verses of "Pit of My Thoughts," and "Enemies," but the higher he goes the more pinched and weak he becomes, somewhat like Amulet's Torgny, though mercifully not quite as high. Usually the effect is minimized by multi-tracking with lower tones, and the vocal harmonies on the album are nicely done. The single-tracked normal singing in the refrain of "Painbox," however, is likely to elicit slight cringes. Although Jules's rough side (which can also be heard in Misery Inc) is the stronger one, in the right range his smoother voices are a force, as well as being an important aspect of Profane Omen's multifacetedness. But he would do well to reserve the upper regions for his quite wonderful screams.

Because of its overall raw energy, passion and sense of spontaneity, Beaten Into Submission has a live feel not associated with such well-produced recordings. There are also certain details evocative of a live setting: an abundance of songs where the fist-pumpability quotient is off the scale, "Rewind," "FMH," and "Gunshot/Mindset" in particular, and some backing vocals that are like the "shout along" contributions they're guaranteed to get from audiences, such as the choruses of "God in a Bottle" and "Rewind." The latter further suggests the stage in its opening, a rendering of the refrain's first line in which Jules goes from faint, clean and subdued to a roar, initially a cappella then joined by drums, the kind of twist a band incorporates more often into live rather than studio versions of songs. A similar phenomenon occurs in "DHC" (which actually sounds as though it were recorded live in the studio), as Jules begins with an improvisational greeting, laughter, clearing of the throat, and talking, continuing to speak even after the music kicks in. All of these elements infuse each listening with the excitement and engagement of a live performance, inspiring a craving for the real thing--and for more music from this creative young band. Most mind-f***ing tracks: "FMH," "Rewind," "DHC," "Pit of My Thoughts".

written by Maud

Playing time: 4201