2006-09-28
Shatterpoint don’t mess about, they create hard and heavy thrash metal with strong 80's influences, without sounding dated, their music has the simplistic aggressiveness of the 80's with the deep melodic heaviness of current metal. This 6 song album has the perfect opener in Pleasure The Pain, strong thrash riffs held together by strong aggressive vocals, the pro-chorus riff changes are a treat to the ears, the strong melodic riff is another blessed 80's throwback, a time when lead guitarist could actually play without over complicating things, its just a short and sweet metal song.
Crushing Down is a mosh inducer, it starts off with a fast rhythm and a great thrash riff, the verse shows some more versatility from the vocals, the melodic vocals and the great death growl in there make it sound as if Chuck Billy sings on the track... Man, I wish more bands would do stuff like this, it takes me back to a much purer and simple period in metal.
Consequences starts off with a great break down, two more positive remarks, the sound is excellent, and the drumming too. The vocals again bring to mind Chuck Billy's, there are some solid rhythm changes and a brilliant lead break, a song like this shows that the band can stand with some of thrash's greats, it has the right combination of all the right elements.
When I Die features some clean guitars and a Hetfield-like deep clean voice, it brings in another flavor to the album that does not sound out of place, when the distortions kick in its all quite obvious, but it still sounds great.
I know this has very little in the way of renewal or invention, but its very well made, very well played, but has all the right ideas from 80's thrash and the band combines them into very good songs, you cant argue with the simple fact that the album works, and it works great.
Alon Miasnikov
