Grudge are an interesting hybrid of old meets new, combining the crafty vocal melodies of Faith No More and Sevendust with a traditional, take no shit metal backdrop akin to Stuck Mojo or "Blind" era Corrosion Of Conformity.

Band frontman Gerrick Phillips easily brings to mind the likes of Faith No More's Mike Patton with his brooding, yet emphatic and rhythmic delivery, but rather than follow only in Patton's footsteps, Phillips also tends to draw his notes out a bit more with a slightly higher pitch, causing him to also strike similarities to former Corrosion Of Conformity frontman Karl Agell. Guitar wise, the effort is layered thick with a constantly chugging display of distorted, slightly new metal inspired riffs that are quite confrontational in nature, yet also draw heavily from more traditional area's, utilizing both speed metal heroics and the occasional solo to buildup steam. Supported by thick, detuned low end rumblings that are played with a fairly percussive, almost funk influenced style; the album barrels forth, taking stability from the hefty incorporation of accomplished off-time drum work that comes anchored by a healthy dosage of unforgiving and heavy handed double kick, complete with thundering rolls.

As a whole, this album is a bit unique in that it provides an unexpected amalgamation of traditional metal circa the early 90's, flourished with tinges of today's ever present new metal aesthetic. There's blazing guitar solo's and yet there's also a loose, bass driven undercurrent that begrudgingly drags the songs along. It's also a very melodic affair, but tends to never commit fully to either side of the emotional spectrum, instead leaving the listener stuck somewhere deep in a grey area of cathartic release. Admittedly it is intriguing to see elements of both the present and past stitched together, as the occasional large programmed bass hit can nearly crater the flow of a careening guitar solo, but it also is hard to deny that the seams can feel a bit loose, almost causing the contrasting styles to work against each other at times. Unfortunately, this is something that is not helped at all by the muddy production that casts a rough shadow over each track included. As such, Grudge land themselves in somewhat of an unenviable position. They will surely win over fans of early 90's metal who have been itching to see the style resurrected with a modern facelift, but sadly those who've come to know and love metal in its current state, will probably find this album a bit too dated for their tastes.