MINI-LP REVIEW INTEGRITY "TO DIE FOR"
1. TASTE MY
SIN
Length: 22:30 (min:secs)
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For the uninitiated, Integrity
is a band from Cleveland, Ohio (USA) that has been in existence for a
colossal fifteen years. As you would expect from a band that's been around
for that long, they have influenced a few along the way and with this
release it’s obvious that they will continue to do so. After their
disappointing last album “Closure” it was understood that the band
was to split, but thankfully they didn’t and with "To Die For" they
are back at their best. It’s a sound that grabs you around the throat, squeezing mercilessly - a menacing mix of Entombed’s malevolence and Hatebreed’s rage in a very strong, dark and heavy metalcore. In fact you can hear where Hatebreed undoubtedly took some influence and used it so successfully. This is incredibly aggressive, with both the vocals and music, taking them to the limits and then a little more. From the outset with “Taste My Sin” they start a fuming vehemence of hammering, thumping drums and pillaging riffs together with angry tense vocals and immediately on into “Blessed Majesty”, which brews into a smouldering intensity that includes an almost Slayer-esq guitar ending. “Dreams Bleed On” is a sweet little acoustic number that throws you off the track and gives a brief lull in the proceedings, before the big chugging metal riffs in “Heavens Final War” dominate once again, only to be prematurely faded out. “Nothing Left” leads a predominantly metal march on into the impressive intro of “Hated Of The World” before breaking out the tough-guys in an all out brawl. “Lost Without You” goes instrumental until “Burn It Down” gets down to some classic metalcore only to be blown away by the ferocity of the closing title track “To Die For”. This is an awesomely powerful album, harnessing the aggressive qualities of hardcore with wildness of metal and tempering it with modicums of melody bound together with a twine of experience. The feral guitar solos and shredding vocals add individuality to a package that is topped with some impressively stunning artwork by Jacob Bannon and superb production by Ben Schigel. The result is something that will be totally invaluable on one of those days where everything turns to shit - just turn this sucker to 11 and feel your frustrations dissolve…
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- Rigsby (22nd October, 2003) |
