All Out WarNewburgh, NY's All Out War were have been around 15+ years now and have endured many ups and downs and enough line up changes to send any band into retirement. Who knew that a couple of guys who wanted to single handedly crush the grunge movement of the early 80's would go on to become one of the most influential bands in hardcore/metal history. Some say they are crossover, others claim they helped usher in metalcore, which has since been turned into a parody of itself but if you ask the band they will tell you metal.
It's so funny when they started, they were aiming to create a sound influenced by the likes of the Cro-Mags, Kreator, Sodom and Carnivore yet the main band used to describe these guys time and time again is Slayer.
This, their fourth full length shows the band sticking to what made them who they are, for better or for worse. It's funny that people will complain that a band has changed their sound too drastically but when they change they cringe. It's like old Hatebreed fans yearning for another "Satisfaction Is The Death of Desire", it just isn't happening. I admire these guys sticking to their roots but the fact of the matter trying to recapture the days of "Truth In The Age of Lies" and "For Those Who Were Crucified" just isn't feasible.
I'm torn, I can understand all of the diehards who are saying this album is utterly and amazing and I can understand where some people say this is just FTWC part two. Yes, this is the AOW we have come to love but it's the same formula and honestly, I wouldn't recommend this to a person getting into the band for the first time, they should check out the older material first. However, for the legions of fans who already own all three or two of the band's previous albums then this is just a nice extension to your collection.
These lyrics are about as metal as it gets. Song after song Mike Score vehemently attacks the contradictions and hypocrisy of all religions and its sheep, which gets a back thumbs up for me because while I believe in a higher power I do not believe in any organized religion. And sure essentially every song contains the same theme but it sure does a great of hammering home the point.
The album was recorded at Big Blue Meanie Studio and it must've had every engineer the studio employs working on this. I must say though, I'm a little disappointed with the overall recording. The guitars are nice and meaty. The vocals are spot on. But I wasn't feeling the drums, they were too low and the bass drum had little presence, and for whatever reason I wasn't too enthralled with the snare tone. The bass tone was another miss for me, I mean it was decent but it didn't pack the ideal low end punch.
Sweet Mohammed Jesus is this one hell of a blasphemous layout courtesy of Mr. Dave Quiggle. It doesn't get any more heretic than having a demonic skull standing at the altar as a priest. Right off the bat you know Mike Score will be mercilessly attacking all religions by the crescent (Islam), cross (Christianity), and the star of David (Jewish) that are displayed on each pillar besides the evil preacher. The book itself is printed on quality gloss paper and is nice and hefty. The lyrics are displayed over easy to read religious images that are hued in a stone gray color. In the middle of the booklet is an eight picture collage of the band. The tray art that consists of the pentagram with the three symbols placed inside, very nice.
Rating: 3.9/5
Songs Worthy of Replay: Curtain Call for the Crucified and Assassins In The House of God
Synopsis: I got to be honest I enjoy the project started when Mike Score left the band back in 2004, Nerve Gas Tragedy more than this. That album just keeps me coming back for more. This is a damn good release, and the best record Victory has released since "Condemned To Suffer" (2003) but when it comes down to it this is the band trying to recapture the glory days. It just sucks when you're trying to top two of the best albums.