1-2-3 Go! seems to be the motto for this young American metal band on this their sophomore release entitled 'Patents of Control'. Straight ahead, fast and furious thrash metal with both feet firmly planted in the same soil that brought us bands like Exodus, Forbidden and Metallica, we move into more traditional (English) heavy metal territory, when ever they slow things a bit down and the hook-lines have some reminiscence of Iced Earth.

The lyrically concept behind the songs deals with the idea of thought and behaviour control through the use of devises that have actual US patents, hence the rather strange album title. The outcome is a good and solid mixture of styles, where the songs come across very focused, and it is easy to hear why this LA based band is a sought after live band; they are very tight and intense.

The sound is well balanced, Neil Kernon has mixed the album, and this should in general appeal to fans of the above bands; classic ol' skool thrash metal. But somehow the last ignition is missing, the album never really win me over... I do miss some variation, especially in the drum department; straight ahead drumming does get a bit boring in the long run.

What I am left with is a solid effort that leaves me somewhere between heaven and hell, thankfully mostly towards the good end of the spectre...

Recommended tracks: "Inhumanation", "Paternal Shift", "Technochrist" & "Mirrors Black".