Simply outstanding. My Diligence know the importance of a strong song opening, as well as a chorus that pulls you back in. With a sound that fuses Fugazi, Helmet, Godflesh, Lo-Pan, Tool, Gojira, Hum, and old-school legitimate Alternative Rock, they've bequeathed us with one of the most exciting, invigorating album releases of 2018 in "Sun Rose."

They vary between hard-hitting to ethereal to major-key joy to edgy abandon, but all with clean vocals and harmonies, sometimes reminiscent of Burton Bell’s clean Fear Factory voice, sometimes reminiscent of Justin Broadrick from Godflesh, or sometimes of Jeff Martin from Lo-Pan and Akula. His voice is one of the selling points, but the riffs and hooks - - both vocal and instrumental - - are really what makes this great. I can’t skimp on praise for the drum work here, though. Where some bands employ the instrument as a necessity to keep the beat, My Diligence use the rhythm section as a powerful, enhancing element to each song. No matter your preferred instrument, you’ll find yourself air-drumming and singing along to these tunes. The catchy vocal refrains to “Backstabbers” and “Flying Poney” will lodge themselves in your brainpan, but the greatness of this record goes beyond these moments. “Lecter’s Song” keeps creeping into my head at random, so let’s give that one a shoutout too. Right from the opening notes of track 1, “Resentful,” you know you’re in for something special. This is one that transports the listener to a plane of distortion and headbanging, delivering all of the Metal Heaviness without sacrificing any melody. It’s broad appeal is safe for all stripes of Metal listeners. Their band name might make you expect Screamo, but this is nothing of the sort. You miss My Diligence, you’re missing out.