Warpath may cover Hatebreed, but don't let that fool you. These Dubliners are on prowl again, and they take no prisoners! This second album, 'Malevolent Reprisal', carries a very, very appropriate title. Warpath have chosen the path of Dying Fetus and Suffocation, to mention a couple of names, style US death metal.

What to expect here: Technicality meets groove, heaviness meets catchiness, and balls meet wall. Riffs can be insane fretboard runs, simplistic groove-packed monsters, or huge slamming stuff. However, the first of the three is biggest in proportion. But what should be taken into consideration is the fact, that even with the technical stuff, the band can be catchy. The same goes with the drumming; battery acrobatics versus straight blasting and groovier beats. The bass flaps like hell in the background. More about the guitars: The solos are simply good, and very metal indeed. 'Point Blank Execution' is pretty Swedish-sounding at times, by the way, and 'Kill at All Costs' reminds of battle tank Bolt Thrower to some extenct. Generally, the keyword is the variety between the songs and within them. These guys weren't afraid to do it, and they succeeded in that job. Anyways, that's what metal music is about, not about verse-chorus stuff. There are two more straight songs here, and they offer well enough flesh over bones. The vocals are very low or more high-pictched growling. However, some of the words are actually comprehensible. The lyrics, which are about violence of course (individual or war), follow the song structures nicely.

Soundwise this is competent. It's heavy and well enough balanced between the instruments. No perfect, but pretty darn good for the music that is this heavy. Same goes with the graphic design; it's competent, but nothing special. To tell the truth, it's the music that matters... Oh, that reminds me about that Hatebreed cover; never listened to that band, but 'Tear It up' is a good HC songs.

What do you want from death metal? Brutality? Check. Technicality? Check. Mosh parts? Check. And one bloody important thing: Catchy, memorable, well composed songs? Check! Warpath's sophomore album is simply a corker. Put 'Malevolent Reprisal' on, turn up the volume, open the cork and swallow it all, bitch!

Rating: 8+ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
02/28/2011 20:44