People talk all kinds of shit about Phil and fuck'em. His reunion with Pantera, being such a huge success is really the only middle finger he needed to give his detractors, yet he continues to make new music with this band because he loves making music which at the end of the day is the only thing that matters. The previous output from this project was more in-your-face with a hardcore feel and a grindcore edge. This sounds more like Goatwhore. In both the aggression of his vocal delivery and the gritty blackened thrash approach applied to the song. Goatwhore is a more finely tuned machine when it comes to this.
Three songs into this album and the formula is still pretty effective, but hopefully, there will be a greater range of dynamics as the album progresses. They do with the 2-minute creepy interlude ornaments. But will this carry over into actual songs? Well "Coin" does have a more throbbing groove. But could this still sound like something Goatwhore would do? I guess this is a sticking point for me since Phil is from New Orleans and he knows the dudes in Goatwhore for sure. Maybe it is a subconscious influence on him, but the vocal approach is a lot like Ben's. Perhaps this is how people who were Exhorder fans before Pantera came along felt. "Evil" feels like an extension of the previous song as the album goes in a more black metal direction.
There is more gallop to 'Hell" which is what they need to help set it apart. "Invoke" is another blackened thrasher. The riff gives a razor-sharp, buzz and the band is good at making this sort of thing but both 1349 and Goatwhore already have this covered. Though with all the Acid Bath reunion shows going on I doubt Goatwhore is going to make a new album any time soon. I do like the lyrics to "Invoke" which sells me on it. The title track is effective but does not break any new ground and this is starting to feel like a secret Goatwhore tribute album to me. The song ends on a cool riff, but cool riffs do not make or break a song on their own. The last song is more black metal, some more memorable riffs or guitar melodies would have been nice if we were talking about expectations when it comes to black metal. I'll give this album an 8.5, as it's hard for me to get Goatwhore out of my head when I hear it and Sammy is nowhere to be found. They are good at what they are doing here, and if you are just getting into black metal it's fair enough entry point, they made the album they set out to make.
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