Review by: Martin Brown
This is the fucker!!! Slick designed sleeve, opening out to reveal a slab of wax with possibly the 2 best metallic hardcore bands in the UK today. xCANAANx’s side is fantastic as expected. They’ve beefed up the production, screeched up the evil riffs, and the results are awesome. The re- recorded ‘From Blood To Fire’ has a lot more urgency and fierceness about it than the version that appeared on the Blackfish compilation. The Maiden-esque end riff sounds absolutely fantastic. ‘Sometimes Death is Better’ is the pick of the two though. Easily the harshest thing they’ve come up with to date, Nate’s vocal chords sound like they’re about ready to burst through his throat before doing you a severe physical disservice, and the thing ends with an ultra slow, pulverising breakdown with gang backup vocals. I defy you not to go apeshit to this. Bring it! If you haven’t heard Thirty Seconds, a) why? and b) they rock out in an ultra heavy way with musically adventurous, interesting skits. Their two offerings are probably the best things. ‘Drone’ is absolutely crushing, resplendent with chuggachugga parts, spastic metallic sketches and plenty of screaming. ” however takes things a step further into a wailing, frenzied, death-metal like cacophony of foul noise. In conclusion therefore, not for the faint-hearted, but if you like it brutal then this is utterly, utterly essential. Great release.