Since this is a Pulverised release, let me stress how glad I am the super jewel box never really took off except with them, Spinefarm, and Peaceville. I don't think reinforcing jewel case hinges so they don't break as easily is worth the inferior changes in design that were made. Who really needs spines on all four edges? I've seen lots of cracked super jewel boxes, so they don't seem particularly sturdier. The worst aspect is having to flex the booklet in order to get it out. The one thing I genuinely like is the locking mechanism on the case--in case you are a plastic manufacturing magnate and happen to read this post, please put these locking mechanisms in high quality regular jewel cases and I'll buy thousands of them from you.
This has somewhat of a modern The Haunted vibe to it, which is strange considering Patrick Jensen has long been out of the band. It's a more straightforward album, so in that sense I would say it's stylically closer to Fornever Laid..., though it's not as brutal and American DM influenced. Respectable output but didn't excite me (a Morgue, Total Death, or Orchriste CD reissue would, though).
I'm neutral. This was a 2006 album, so going in expecting anything remotely like Illusions is a level of optimism that crosses into retarded. The more modern mid-paced chug stuff is uninteresting, but they're hardly the worst offenders. Every couple of songs they throw in a fast, straightforward thrash riff, as if to make things more palatable for older fans, but these seem very tame compared to the craziness of that first LP. The main riff from "Sick" is the only time things hearken back to the first 2 albums in a significant way, but even that is sabotaged by the chorus coming in. Oh, and for some reason Darren's vocals on "Smackdown" remind me a lot of Rob Urbinati circa Torment in Fire.
Let's move on to the bonus disc, the real reason for picking this up:
Black March - The speedy part at the end makes it better than anything on Elements of Anger--so naturally it's the only '94 demo track not on the album.
Invaders cover - Okay musically, but obviously the normal Sadus vocals are a hindrance here.
Merciless Death cover - Best thing they have recorded since 1992.
