Reviewed by Ian Webber

Kicking off with a track like "The Annals Of Subterfuge" by Deliverance sets this 17 track compilation up in promising fashion. Join this with contributions from the likes of Ultimatum and Step Cousin and you have the backbone of a worthwhile listen. There are lesser known bands included too, but all subscribe to the school of incessant riffing and bone-crushing rhythms. The quality on offer is good and provides a taste of some bands worth further investigation. Amongst the highlights are the rolling, blues influenced guitar work on Step Cousin's "Bitter Reminder" along with the endless drum rolls and rhythm changes in "The Swarm Of Eden" by Divulgence. Other surprises include the aggressive vocal performance of Tsavo Inc's Cleiton Magno and the female lead of Spirit's Breeze. Other acts compiled here include Supresion, Puritan, Boarders, Temple Of Blood and Truster. Not every track is of the highest quality, and amongst these is the disappointing "Internal Torment" by the Moshketeers recorded in the days when production values were not what they are today. Having said this, there is enough variety within the material on offer here to make this worth seeking out if you are a fan of thrash and power metal looking for new bands to listen to.

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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