It's been many years since headbangers have heard a peep from aggressive metallists
Believer
(1993's
Dimensions
was the last time they issued a new studio album). But seemingly out of nowhere, the group -- which still features original/longtime members
Kurt Bachman
(vocals) and
Joey Daub
(drums) -- returned in 2009, with
Gabriel
. The group's first release for the
Metal Blade
label shows that despite the long layoff between albums, the boys are automatically back in business, as a challenging, almost proggy edge can be detected in all the manic six-string riffing and growling, especially on such tracks as the album-opening
"Medwton,"
plus
"Focused Lethality"
and the slowly building
"The Brave."
However, through and through,
don't stray all that far from their original path, as
still contains more than a few nods to vintage late-'80s/early-'90s metal. ~ Greg Prato