Nebraska surely isn't the first place one would think of if asked where tomorrow's metal heavyweights are coming from, but Omaha's Paria look to change that. Having released a two-song demo via Imagine It Records, the group are looking to bring their noxious blend of hatred and heaviness to a wider audience with "Misanthropos". Blisteringly heavy and unabashedly vicious, "Misanthropos" is a supremely sinister, albeit uneven debut for Black Market Activities newest addition.

However adept Paria are (or will be) at playing their given instruments, "Misanthropos" exposes a band still clearly in the formative stages of honing a definitive sound. An amalgamation of self-proclaimed "epic hardcore" and metal extremes, this is an effort that has a little something for every metalhead (and with a rousing rendition of Primus' "Too Many Puppies" hidden within, perhaps the appeal extends even beyond the metal ranks). While this is a formidable debut it is painfully inconsistent, genre-hopping on a whim, as through the course of one song comparisons to Pantera, Darkest Hour, Mastodon & Neurosis can be found. While some may find this stitched-together form of songwriting effective it also seems to be an attempt at pandering to EVERY style of metal rather than focusing on and excelling at any signature form.

A band of this pedigree could easily be seen as a social outcast amidst the desolate fields of Nebraskan corn, but within the heavy metal world they are, for the moment, just another ambitious face with little direction. Though they have limitless potential, Paria just haven't had enough seasoning to match up with their peers like Burnt By The Sun or The Red Chord, and this full-length debut is a testament to that. The hunger and talent captured on "Misanthropos" is reason enough to keep an eye on the sextet, but the final product is an album whose influences overshadow its own true voice.