Believer Title: Gabriel Label: Metal Blade Records Year: 2009 Rating: 3.5 / 5

Technically sound? check. Progressively Modern? check. Signature Interludes? check. Face Melting thrash? double check. I’m not sure why this band never really blew up in their eight year run? Now back with this brutally magnificent record, Believer is here to set the record straight. Gabriel is a fine mixture of intelligent metal, heightened at the senses and boiled to perfection. With stabs of Tool, As I Lay Dying and other metal that push boundaries, Believer is right at home with their latest technical thrash domination. “The Need For Conflict” explodes with an all out war mentality filled with technical fretwork, brutal beats and warlike attitude, like a thrasher on the receiving end of a thrash metal beatdown. The blood-shot eyed “Stoned” has all the goods that Believer has to offer and is one my fav’s, wonder why? The progressive assault of “Redshift” simply states why this band matters. Believer makes good on their thrash roots with Gabriel and even adds a modern touch to their sound to suffice for modern thrash fans. Modern thrash fans might not dig the laid back guitar solos, piano tinges, groovy bass lines and clean guitar ventures but for an old school thrasher like myself, it adds depth and texture, almost making it a whole new animal, which makes it that much better in my opinion. Never losing sight of the prize, this album delivers on all levels. The relentless sonic mastery of Believer slays song for song and new school thrashers should take note. Hell Even Howard Jones Of Killswitch Engage got on in the melee and provided backup vocals for “The Brave” which totally sounds killer. I do believe that Beliver has chosen the right time to make a come back. The world of metal is steadily becoming brackish in a sense and the old schoolers are proving to be the ones bringing the fresh meat, Thank God.

By: Gian Erguiza