So what does it sound like? The guitars on this album are great despite the generic intro (at least it was not acoustic). The guitarists, Patrick Pintaville and Peter Joseph, are technically good and trade leads with the best in the genre (my opinion: Niklas Sundin and Michael Niklasson). They play with a speed unseen by European melodic death kings In Flames in years, yet there is a constant sense of melody. Lots of melody. There’s quite a bit of thrash inspired work like on album highlights “A Breath Beneath” and “Necropolis.”

The one thing about this album I don’t like is the drum production. It sounds kind of flat and de-bassed (maybe not a word, but it fits). The guitars though bite quite nicely, and Jamie Stewart’s vocals are perfect for this type of metal: hoarse and tortured but clear. It is also interesting to note that the last 3 tracks on this album, “I, Deceiver,” “My Ruin,” and “Seven Demons,” were recorded a year prior to the first seven tracks; therefore, these tracks do not feel as tightly played as the others, but the drums are more audible.

If you are one of those fans who only likes “genre expanding music” or thinks melodic death was done with after Slaughter of the Soul, you won’t like this CD. But if you are the type of person who likes music that is enjoyable and damn well done, regardless of the fact that you can easily pick out the influences, pick this up. Here’s to American metal without a single chug or breakdown.

written by Kevin Penner

Playing time: 42.21