With their latest full-length offering "Antigone", the German wrecking crew known as Heaven Shall Burn haven't just pulled out all the stops as much as they have demolished them and everything else that once stood in their path. Fueled by a standard diet of feral metalcore with elements of death metal and thrash, this album remains nothing short of menacing while still showcasing considerable evolution. Such bold strides are readily apparent too, especially in the elegance of the newfound melodic flourishes and cleanly sung vocals, plus the outright barbarity found within the groups often malevolent approach.

To put it lightly, this album is crushingly heavy. Rare is it that a band can write material that actually transfers its weight and burden onto to the listener and with this opus Heaven Shall Burn come quite close to doing exactly that. It's bruising, relentless and cathartic all in one shot and rarely does it ever stop to check if the listener is still breathing. Comparisons to At The Gates, Earth Crisis and Bolt Thrower have been made by the bands label and interestingly enough a collaboration between such a trio would probably sound pretty close to what is laid down here. With ruthless aggression Heaven Shall Burn relish in pummeling their prey, using repetitive chugging riffs that build into Swedish styled squeals and eruptions, a muddy rhythm section perforated by thunderous drumming, and vocals that sound like they're being shouted from a rope-burned larynx.

Indeed this European outfit have stepped up to the plate and the end results are akin to that of an artillery strike and a smoldering crater. Not content to remain merely heavy however, the inclusion of some melodic elements which show up in the form of more sullen instrumentation ala keys, strings and synth are also made and almost lend a less severe Dimmu Borgir-esque vibe to the album. Such rare moments are occasionally even backed up by clever usage of clean spoken or cleanly sung vocals and add a well needed dynamic to the album. But still, even with an extension in such a direction there is no stopping the outing from becoming a bit worn-out after a few tracks in. The pit bull-like tenacity exhibited here can quickly grow tiresome as a subtle lack of variation is practiced all too often. As such, more conservative metal fans will probably not appreciate the aural subjugation on hand, but for those lusting for a release comparable to random bloodshed, "Antigone" will easily deliver the necessary rush.