breed another war

Released: 29 November 2010 Label: FaceFront

It may seem a bold prediction to suggest that if you like modern metal – any sort of modern metal – you will find something to your liking on this second album from Breed. Bold, but true.

The Norwegian quartet really do offer something for everyone, ploughing through these ten tracks with an enthusiasm that could only come from genuine fans choosing to place no limits on the music they create.

What matters to Breed is not whether their music can be pigeon-holed as one thing or another, but that they construct powerful songs capable of melting your face from a mile away.  On that basis alone, this album is a raging success.

What we find then is the Drowning Pool / Black Label Society-inspired rawk of Bloodstone and the title track sat comfortably besides the crushing groove of Fire which powerfully answers the question of what stoner metalcore would sound like.

The highlight though is the punishing Prisoner of Carnage which effortlessly marries Forbidden-style thrash with a middle section of swamp-dwelling riffage straight out of NOLA.

The rhythm section of Max (bass) and Core (drums) is as tight as hell from beat one, while guitarist Damage throws out both riffs and solos with relentless energy. Vocalist Mauz also impresses with a varied and vociferous performance.

Only a semi-balladic The Tide misses the mark, but overall, this is a mightily impressive slab of pounding modern metal. Go get.

by Marcus Jervis