The Great Depression

Album Review

It's been said before, but it deserves repeating — to the unenlightened, death metal may sound like a bunch of cacophonic torture. But to the well-versed metal veteran, the truth has been unveiled long ago — it's usually one of the most complicated and technically demanding hard rock styles on the planet (right up there with the proggiest of prog rock). And a fine example of this theory is the British quintet Trigger the Bloodshed. Despite experiencing some lineup upheaval in 2008 (new vocalist Johnny Burgan and bassist Dave Purnell are the new recruitments), throughout Trigger the Bloodshed's sophomore full-length, 2009's Great Depression, the group has no problem picking up precisely where they left off. The chaps riff, growl, and grind the night away, as evidenced by such metallic atom bombs as the album opening title track and "Sanctuary of the Wretched."