I Declare War

I Declare War have impressed me with each release and think every album is solid in its own right. This album too is very solid, but could have a couple improvements done to it. From Amidst the Bloodshed to Malevolence, I think they definitely changed sounds because the albums sound quite different instrumentally and changed 3/5ths of the band's members. On this album, I feel like they bring the same sound that they did on Malevolence except even more improved.

The guitars tend to chug a lot, which is a bit disappointing and it leaves the songs very boring and generic. But when they actually riff, they pull it off all so well. The riffs sound so juicy, heavy, death metal-ish, and are perfect for the song. If the band did this more and fucked around less by just chugging, then it would be amazing. However, there are a few sprinkles of very gold parts. There is a guitar solo on Pillow Talk, guitar tapping on Human Waste, and a couple other great parts.

For vocals, I was very sad to hear that Jonathan Huber left IDW. He is one of my favorite vocalists, and I feel like had he been on this album, he finally would've sounded amazing as fuck once again. However, Jamie Hanks' vocals sound brutal, powerful, and and along with the entire band it all sounds beefy as fuck together and fits incredibly well. He is without question one of the best possible replacements the band could have got.The lyrics are mostly anti religion with a few different topics.

I feel the same way about the drums just like the guitar. I feel like they don't always do particularly impressive things too often, but then they do its pulled off very well and is fucking insane. Some of the blastbeats are badass and there is some fast ass double bass.

The bass is impossible to hear, it can only be occasionally heard around breakdowns, and is incredible distorted. Otherwise, the production itself is very clean sounding and very good. This lineup of IDW very well set the tone for them. I feel like this record perfectly captures the band's sound, an absolute brutal fucking machine crushing anything that enters its path.