After All - Cult of Sin (2009)

Though new to my own ears, and possibly yours, After All is an established Belgian band with 20+ years and seven full length albums to their career. If their previous albums are as tight as this, I have to think it's a shame I didn't pick up on them sooner. Cult of Sin is a thrash metal album, largely, though the vocals of Piet Focroul have a vibe about them that recalls the dirtier European power metal vocals of Grave Digger, Excelsior, Paragon, and Piet from Iron Savior. They have a lot of character, and combined with the solid riffing in each of the 11 original tracks, they create a good album with some listening longevity.

The acoustic "Another False Prophecy" initiates the album, closing with some power/thrash guitars akin to Paradox. Once the chugging for "My Own Sacrifice" begins, you feel like you're about to hear the new Metallica. I'm serious, the riffing that opens the song sounds like something from Ride the Lightning. The verse and vocals change it up a little, with a slight melodeath feel to it and Focroul's distinct vocals. "Scars of My Actions" is a thrashing romp with excellent riffing and the perfect vocals. "Betrayed by the Gods" is a nice, slower thrasher with powerful grooves and a catchy bridge/chorus. "Devastation Done" uses some driving death metal rhythms and breakdowns for impact. The band's ability to mix diverse influences like this into a thrash core is what truly makes Cult of Sin a strong record. No two tracks sound quite a like, and all of them are memorable. "Embracing Eternity" and "Hollow State" are two more of the ragers. "Release" simply rules. The album ends with a cover of Dio's "Holy Diver", which has been covered far too many times and essentially a waste of space, but this is the only track I didn't care for. There are a number of guest musicians on the album, including Andy LaRocque, Joey Vera, Juan Garcia, and James Rivera.

Cult of Sin sounds down to earth, with powerful guitar crunch and excellent drumming. The bass takes a back seat to the rest of the band, but you'll still hear it plodding along. One of the more grounded and song-heavy thrash albums I've heard this year, it has provided me with more than enough reason to track down some of their earlier material. I definitely recommend this to any fan of quality thrash/power metal, nothing too showy but full of impressive hooks and a fairly original sound for the genre. It's the type of album that will stick with you for some time.

Verdict: Win [8.5/10]

http://www.myspace.com/afterallmetal