This is pretty close to the line from "Time Does Not Heal," and somehow it does not sound like the same idea. The production is somewhat of an issue. I normally do not want bands to try to replicate a sound, but these guys had something good going when we left them in 1991. It sounds like they are trying too hard . The guitar tone needs to be more organic, and this mix is really weird; the way the sung vocals are overdubbed in the background does not sound good. It's not until we get to "Woke Up to Blood" that it begins to recapture the magic. Rinehart's bellow, replaced by shouting and growling that makes me wonder if he can even mimic what he once did. I will take what they are doing on "Woke Up to Blood."
At times, it feels like they don't understand that they do not need to compete with the death metal bands of today, as what they were doing would have worked well enough. "Apex Predator" feels rushed to me. The vocals feel like he is defaulting to a more punk approach. Though as it progresses, there are hints at the singer he once was. The problem here is that they raised the bar so high for themselves in their glory days, it's hard to accept anything less than "Time Does Not Heal," which, even then, was not the peak form they achieved on "Leave Scars". 'Sea of Heads" finds a riff that balances who they were with where they are going well. Rinehart starts sounding like himself more on this one.
They have always been on the darker Slayer side of thrash, though less about going to hell and more about personal demons, which does not seem to be the theme of this album, which makes broader, more typical metal lyrical statements. I get that speed is a part of thrash, but I think a more deliberate groove might work better for them here. Instead, things sound as awkward as the title "Scarface the Room"; though that song works better, most of the time, it runs off a similar frantic energy. Perhaps it's the vocals that settle in and make it feel better. Though the sung vocal takes are mixed in that weird, distant way again.
"E Pluribus Nemo" is more deliberate, though the guitar melodies layered atop sound very overdubbed. Though as a song, it is one of the album's strongest moments. Gene Hoglan is not going to let you down if he is the reason you are here. "Terror Construct" works off the kind of taunt palm muted chug you expect from thrash. It has some of the hookiest riffs yet. The last song is a more straightforward fast thrasher. I will give this album an 8.5, as it pulls it together and shows itself as the band you once loved more often than not, the deeper into the album you go. Not a perfect album, largely due to production choices, but it works to bring the band back. Given the choice, I will always play "Leave Scars" instead, but worth a listen if you are a fan.
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