As Blood Runs Black's "Allegiance" may not be titled as entirely mysteriously as you think. For on it, the band firmly pledge their love to the various facets of metal, as technical metalcore is sliced up by influences of grind, death, thrash and more to create an aural altar fit for a skull bashing good time.

Not too far off from groups like Dead To Fall, As Blood Runs Black take a melting pot approach of the more extreme sides of the genre, and with the help of the almighty chugga riff and a tightly syncopated rhythm section, proceed to shred and bludgeon with searing intensity. Sweeping strains of Euro death metal add some wretched color to the harsh screams and bellows, blast beats occasionally rattle the bolts and throughout it all, the band maintain an unwaveringly brutal focus.

But while the band are clearly talented at whatever they attempt, they sadly fall short in the songwriting department. Sure they are able to seamlessly mix contrasting parts together in a dynamic nature. Hell, they even step outside themselves and deliver a crestfallen melodic instrumental number on "Pouring Reign". But while the band continuously unleash severe blast after blast little but sonic destruction is accomplished.

Even the amusingly borrowed chorus of Wu-Tang Clan "Bring The Motherfucking Ruckus" on "In Dying Days" fails to stand out as it is so densely assimilated into the standardized metalcore assault. Perhaps this is the main problem here, while the band surely sweat for their songs, they never seem to really bleed for them as the identity investment isn't exactly substantial. In short, listening to "Allegiance" is a lot like waking up with a large bruise on your body, sure it hurts like hell, but you have no recollection of how it got there as the night before was little more than a blur.