Profile rising, Belgium speed metallers Evil Invaders (the same guys denied access to the US earlier this year) issued their third platter, one that should be heard by all lovers of loose thrash and all music noisy. Upon first listen, the delivery of lead track ‘Mental Penitentiary’, could only describe it as inhumanely fast rapping atop a runaway downhill roll. Amazing speed! Elsewhere a sense of melody is strongly evident, although past brushes with Iron Maiden sensibilities can't be substantiated. Witness the whirling guitar break in ‘As Life Slowly Fades’. Singled named frontman/guitarist Joe retains the Schmier inspired piercing yelp accents. A subtle, jangly 51 second intro (‘Suspended Reanimation’) leads into like-minded ‘Broken Dreams In Isolation’, where Joe offers a more sinister, black metal sneer (albeit at mid-tempo), until the later half, when all Hell breaks loose.

The title cut mid-way through the running order, a vicious headbang. On the opposite end of the music spectrum is the nearly acoustic introduction to ‘Oblivion’, all the more intense when the foursome rip into the “meat” of the song, seemingly getting faster as it goes! Similar to how Exciter opened up “Heavy Metal Maniac” and there's a light-to-dark musical heredity between the two acts. The bass solo begun ‘Shades Of Solitude’ is a crescendo building instrumental (2:38). The final pair, the only ones eclipsing five minutes comprise 1/3 of the total running time. Luckily ‘Anger Within’ and ‘Among The Depths Of Sanity’ are unbridled, hair shaking speeders: the former gallops with spirited guitar solo and hint of ride cymbal, while the latter (the album behemoth at 6:36, almost twice as long as the shortest song, excluding intros/voiceless numbers) is more restrained, adding an eerie Halloween (the original movie) soundtrack element.
Interestingly, the English promo claims it's “A must-have for every guitar-freak and for fans of Death, Slayer, Kreator and Judas Priest's Painkiller,” while the German language sheet instead says, “Unconditional recommendation for all guitar freaks between Dimebag Darrell and Randy Rhoads”. Regardless, sure to be on my Year End/Best Of list!