Buy any NWOSMDM releases in the past couple years? Shelve 'em (if they're not already there) and get this. Heavy Swedish death metal with a Heartwork-era Carcass vibe with big helpings of Arch Enemy (with less skilled soloing, but good nonetheless). Also, comparisons to later Voivod and Strapping Young Lad can be made with some Iron Maiden-y intros and interludes thrown in for good measure. Vocals are raspy, but somewhat clean . . tonal, I should say - sort of a mix of Devon Townsend and the guy from Am I Blood, with some Steve Austin (Today Is The Day), without the vocal effects. Instruments are played cleaner than my kitchen counters (that's pretty damn clean - I'm a germophobe). Production is clean and thick, but a bit dirtier than, say, what one might get from Studio Fredman, which gives this disc a rawer feel.

© 2000 j. mcintyre