Balanced precariously close to imploding, Martyr AD's trials and tribulations during the recording process of their latest opus could have been catastrophic for most bands. However, rather than letting the departure of frontman Michael Fisketti and the disappearance of drummer Justin Kane lead to their ruin, they sucked it up and moved on. Now back with new members in the fold, they have returned in grand style, offering the follow-up to "The Human Condition In 12 Fractions" with the same level of animosity their fans have grown accustomed to.

Martyr AD are certainly not reinventing the wheel on their Victory Records debut, as "On Earth As It Is In Hell" is unilaterally formulaic in almost every aspect. The song structuring seems to follow the 'why fix what isn't broken' train of thought, and this makes for a regimented verse / chorus / breakdown / repeat pattern that is rarely deviated from. Despite the unwittingly predictable nature the album possesses though, the band's sheer ferocity propels is along, and it is their unwavering metalcore brutality that allows such a paint-by-numbers effort to rise above the crop. Add to this some of the most vicious song-writing to emerge from the hardcore scene in recent memory and it makes for an album that delivers exactly what fans could hope to expect. The additions of former Holding On vocalist Andy Hart and drummer Karl Hensel to their line-up boasts no ill effects, as they have assimilated well to Martyr AD's vitriolic brand of social hatred and seem intent on whole-heartedly nurturing the sentiment.

Considering the difficulties that cropped up shortly after the group's partnership with Victory Records, it is shocking at how solid this album is. Faced with the near destruction of the band and remaining focused and strong is an unenviable task, yet the stress heaped upon their shoulders has resulted in one of the most vehement, sadistically angry albums to ever come from the Chicago label. Though fans of the group's previous effort may find "On Earth As It Is In Hell" to be a bit too derivative, listeners of metalcore in general should have no problems firmly embracing the chaos that Martyr AD savor so much.