The second landing by Finnish death/thrash newcomers Point-Blank has begun. 'Execution' invades with the strength of four new songs. How far inland they can go this time around?

'Death March' starts with sounds of battle and soon the band get their gears of war running. Catchy lead guitar work together with accurate riffage, double-kick beats taking turns with shifty drumming, and bubbling bass guitaring make an interesting song, that includes both straightforward and rather pliable moments. Totally one-dimensional, painful, throaty grunting doesn't actually bother me, because it fits with the music anyway. The following three songs take the similar route. Surely, the band throw some interesting riffage and drumming on them, but the first one is the most savage of the songs. It simply sounds like the band ran out of ideas and were playing the same pieces in different order over and over again. However, the band have one saving point: Although you won't hear any new elements of metal music here, it's good to hear, for the second time, that Point-Blank can't directly be compared to any band. The sound is well-balanced for a demo, if a bit on the trebly side.

The band have their basics working, but the songwriting is way too uneventful. On 'Death March' the pieces seem to fit together, but the band haven't been able to create another such song here. Hopefully we'll hear some versatile strategies next time.

Reviewed by Lane
03/21/2009 09:15