Reviewed by Gareth Hills

Fresh out of Edmonton, Canada's hardcore scene, As Bold As Lions ferocious debut release opens with swirling guitars, before launching into 25 minutes of some of the most heartfelt and raw metal I have heard so far this year. The band's name is taken from Proverbs 28:1 - "The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as lions" - and this inspiration is reflected in many of the songs here. They are hearteningly up front about their beliefs and convictions, eschewing some of the more complex metaphorical wordplay found in some Christian metal in favour of anthemic lines such as those found in "The Anthem" which finds vocalist Jon Maheswaran crying out to God for wisdom, strength and courage, and the title track which borrows from the popular worship song "In Christ Alone". This combination of hymn-like lyricism, punctuated by awesome breakdowns and heavy riffs, works surprisingly well. Inevitably, as this is their first release, the production quality of the album isn't perhaps as clear as the clinical production that has characterised much of recent metal, but I personally found that this DIY ethos actually enhanced the overall texture of the album.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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