Thy Art Is Murder: Holy War

Throw into the mix, well, that mix, and Hate was just about enough to force every stretch-lobed teen to change their mosh shorts.

Which begs the question – how the hell do you follow Hate? The subject matter of the band’s third album, Holy War – “all evil born of religious immunity, indoctrination, and ignorance” – has remained steadfastly at the forefront of the buzz. The package is nothing without the delivery vehicle, though, and thankfully Holy War is another twisted ride through the darkest corners of modern heavy music. It would be naïve to suggest that the album is another breakthrough of Hate proportions, and one observes some stark similarities (‘Fur And Claw’ screams ‘The Purest Strain Of Hate’; parts of ‘Naked And Cold’ reek of ‘Reign Of Darkness’).

Honestly, though, when the bar has been set so high to begin with, to clear it yet again is nothing short of a miracle. This band is nowhere near done pushing things higher – even if it is only by an inch each time.