While some metalheads may never be able to forgive Italy for giving the world Lacuna Coil, wiser listeners know of groups like Ephel Duath and The Secret who have quietly been pushing metal to new extremes. With "Disintoxication", The Secret once again strap themselves into the torched husks that bands like Botch and Breach left behind and raise a similar amount of chaotic mathy carnage in their stead.

Undoubtedly modern fans will link the band to the likes of Converge, The Dillinger Escape Plan and their label mates in Cursed, and comparisons to all of the above are quite apt. For The Secret possess a ferocious amount of intensity, a longing for droned out prog and a darker energy that somehow distances them from the sterility of their American peers. But while they definitely have the evil nature and enraged whirlwind of chops and breakdowns in their clutches, there's a lack of breathing room and experimentation that only sees them going too far.

The area of metal they have set out to conquer is one that has been firmly staked prior and it'll take a bit more creativity than distorted pick slides and ringing notes to break down the walls. Still, even though the bands overall set of ideas can be limited, this album still sates the thirst for aural bloodshed and that in itself goes a long way. Plus, if that's not enough, the album has black on black text liner notes and is adorned by creepy pictures of fully naked women.