The Pitch: India's controversial Heathen Beast are back via Transcending Obscurity after a brief hiatus, drawn by the ongoing political unrest in their region. FFO Pig Destroyer, Rotten Sound, Gadget, Lock Up
What I Like: Not only are the heathens back, but they are angrier than ever on this album. And what better way to express unhinged, venomous rage than through grindcore? That's right, gone are most of the black metal influences in favor of sweltering, raw guitar tremolos and drumhead-breaking blasts. The screams are the most ferocious I have heard from this band yet: caked in distortion and certain to lead to blistered vocal cords. I actually quite like the changes; if nothing else they fit the tone of the album's concept perfectly. And for those hoping that the band has retained some of their regional flair, you won't be dissapointed. Similar to Al-Namrood, there are some really cool traditional drums to go along with the work on the kit.
What I Don't Like: Nothing too amazing and some of the samples are a little silly. It's grind mostly as usual.
The Verdict: Perhaps the band's best work to date. Nothing like a little civil unrest to stir up new found energy in a group of young metalheads. I hope they stick around long enough to hone their craft a little further, but I imagine there are a lot of limitations on their ability to practice and record.
Flight's Fav's: Surgical Strike, It's Only A Minor Inconvenience, My Note Has GPS