Review Summary: Overall: this is a great record. Filled with emotion and, well, crazy music but if you're looking for great musicianship; you probably won't find it here.
Starting off with the very aggressive first track, Premeditated, you'll get a good feel for what you're getting into, or so you'd think but there are some nice surprises to be found here. I can really admire the sound effects used. It has a nice industrial vibe, as if someone filled a bucket full of nails and starting rattling it. And now the guitars are doing something different than the usual chugging. The lead guitars are all over the place and sound pretty spooky, especially in The Devil's Contract and Fiction Religion.
Pushing through the next three tracks, Fiction Religion, Digging Your Grave and Population Control we get more of the heavy side. Digging Your Grave has some quite remarkable moments, like the DJ scrape intro (done on guitar) and the intense fist fight ending. Fast pace verses and flowing chorus's make this one of the better tracks. As for the other two tracks. They have pretty awful chorus's. though Population Control does have this groovy feel and an amazing rap section about half way through, This is a strong point that they shouldn't let go of. the clean vocals really are hit or miss. Tracks such as Troll, Sober and Soulless and Glad You're Gone have such well performed and admirable cleans.
Troll is borderline speed metal, with a huge breakdown toward the end. All supported by a great deal of dynamic mid tone screams. I consider this song to be a transition for the the better tracks. This is how they shouldn't have started it. Following Troll is The Devil's Contract. Such a great track that personally reminds me of Rob Zombie or Marilyn Manson. Verses are heavy and memorable and vocals are eerie and well done with quite a bit of unique lead guitar. Often times you'll hear frontman Landon Tewers whispering and getting angry. Almost like we're in his head.
Two of my favorite tracks Shyann Weeps and Bible Butcher have a powerful southern sound, much like their EP, Wife Beater. I want more songs like this. These two songs are also very similar to The Devil's contract. Drumming on these tracks are actually worth mentioning. Not doing a whole lot but doing a enough different things to catch my attention.
Between Shyann Weeps and Bible Butcher we do get a good softer song. This one sounds like an anthem. very alternative, you could say. It's more of a rock song than metal. Which they executed very well and is a nice break from all the racket.
At last, we reach my favorite song on the album, Glad You're Gone. This was originally a solo song of the vocalist's. this track is flawless. You could almost consider it pop punk. No screams. Very polished clean vocals with a chorus to die for and lead guitar that will be stuck in your head the second you hear it.
