Having already conquered much of their native U.K., the cabal known as Sikth are now finally getting a proper introduction to the North American populace with "Death Of A Dead Day". A more structured step forward from their past work, this effort still sees the group combining avant-garde instrumentalism with ferocious metalcore and nu-metal elements, but this time it comes with sturdier construction.

To the uninitiated Sikth's sound could be described as what may have happened to Mudvayne if they took copious amounts of crystal meth and didn't fall in love with rock radio. A heaving claustrophobic assortment of screeching metal, unhinged technical ability and alarming neurotic energy, the band take on a melting pot approach that almost strives to chaotically boil over.

When aggressive they race through the albums songs with feverish energy, jaggedly placing slap and pop bass, convulsing drums and skittish guitars underneath an entirely animated and enraged vocal performance. Their ability to make the songs sound like organic, living breathing monostroisites is also highly impressive. Yes, at times their aesthetic can be a bit dated, but the frantic delivery, relentless off-time playing and strobe light showcases of instrumental wizardry generally do make up for any stylistic shortcomings.

Their softer side however tends to deliver mixed results. Unlike their last effort though, the melodies are more beefed up and dynamic, taking on a haunting quality instead of sounding loose and breezy. In turn, they manage to deliver a lot more depth than they previously could with their attempts, even though these often-muddled forays are probably the weakest link here overall.

At their finest, the members of Sikth push their instruments to the breaking point, with hysterical rage, explosive staccato structuring and a virulent momentum that spirals out of control. At their worst it can turn into clustered dirges that quickly encumber the listener with an abundance of weight and schizophrenic part changes that go nowhere.

Thankfully enough, the balance here tips mainly to the former rather than the latter and an invigorating, if not alienating, listen is experienced. Sure it may be a bit too much for the squeamish or fans of cookie cutter breakdowns, but it is also one of the most lively warts-and-all metal albums to see a release in years.