Valhalla Awaits - 'Reckoning'

There’s a menacing swagger to Skin and Bone, a track swathed in distortion and punctuated with squeals of angry guitar. Relentless riff meets lyrics that seethe with barely concealed rage. And yet, there’s something undeniably melodic in the chorus that’s much catchier than it first appears. A tortured solo drops away and allows a moment of respite before the crescendo hits with even greater impact.

Opening with an aggressive stop start riff, Rolling Thunder accelerates at pace, temporarily slowing for a chorus that’s easily the most accessible here. It’s another monster of a track, a showcase of the commanding guitar work that dominates proceedings in the best possible way.

Frenetic energy seems to power Where Do We Go? Threatening to derail but held together by impressive rapid fire drumming courtesy of Gareth ‘Snoz’ Lawrence, it’s intense and anguished, with vocals dripping in attitude. There’s a wonderful moment when the tempo slows and the drums really breathe, difficult to describe but impossible to miss.

The shadow of Alice In Chains looms over the doubled up vocals and despairing lyrics of Inside The Sun. But the unexpectedly cathartic chorus cuts through the bruising metal riffing in spectacular fashion. And just when you think it’s over, the band kick back in at breakneck speed, a final blast of adrenaline.

Miss this at your peril; Reckoning has never sounded so good.