Before I post the review, I am going to post the reviewer's playlist from the same issue of metal maniacs (sept '08) nuff said, right? -marbas

MetalGeorge Pacheco (PACO, HA HAA!!!FUCK!)

DESTINITY, THE ORDER                                                                             

LIFE OF AGONY, ALL

OPETH, WATERSHED

RAUNCHY, WASTELAND DISCOTHEQUE

VOLBEAT, ROCK THE REBEL/METAL THE DEVIL

EZURATE, 'BLASPHEMOUS HIERARCHY' ROTTING CORPSE

CHICAGO ILLINOIS' EZURATE ARE EXACTLY WHAT BY-THE BOOK BLACK METAL'S SUPPOSED TO BE...AND ALL THE MORE BORING BECAUSE OF IT. BLASPHEMOUS HIERARCHY IS COMPETENTLY RECORDED, WRITTEN, AND EXECUTED; IT ALSO HAPPENS TO BE 10 YEARS PAST ITS SHELF LIFE. WHILE THERE'S CERTAINLY A PLACE FOR TRADITIONAL BLACK METAL THESE DAYS AND THE 14 TRACKS HERE DON'T NECESSARILY DO THE USBM SCENE A GRAVE INJUSTICE WITH THEIR THORNSPAWN- ESQUE SENSE OF AMERICAN BRUTALITY, THE SONG WRITING IS CLEARLY BUILT FOR SPEED, NOT COMFORT. THERE ISN'T ANY ONE ELEMENT WHICH LIFTS BLASPHEMOUS HIERARCHY INTO THE, UH "BLASPHEMOUS HIERARCHY' OF EZURATE'S MODERN DAY COMPATRIOTS. THEIR ONE SAVING GRACE IS THE LEAD GUITAR TALENTS OF SIX-STRINGER BLACKTHORN. THESE PASSAGES, COMBINED WITH THE BETWEEN-SONG ACOUSTIC FILLERS, FLY FINE ATOP THE BAND'S MARDUK-STYLE SPEED-OBSESSION AND ALMOST MAKE ME FORGET ALL ABOUT THIS ALBUM'S UNORIGIONALITY. -METAL PACO REPORTING