‘Solace in silence, Downpouring rain, Welcome the nightmare, Mankind enslaved, A final cry, Forgotten corpse smiles as we die’ (Screams At The Sky)

Now, this is an absolute battering ram of a record. The debut album from Philadelphia’s Psych-War is a savage statement in the finest traditions of Swedish hardcore.  The base elements of galloping metallic crust riffage and remorseless d-beat rhythms are, of course, firmly in place.  Yet, it is the sheer unbridled conviction of the delivery that sends you reeling for cover.

There is a really satisfying muscularity to the riffage, while the darkly melodic leads and squalling, blues-fired solos cut through the sonic violence with a piercing clarity.  The roared vocals harshly evoke an apocalyptic vision of endless war and climatic collapse fuelled by imperial delusions and systematic greed.

The barbarous impact is further heightened by the skilful manner in which the band marshal this intensity to reap its full effect – each track hits home with a sledgehammer velocity all of its very own.  The highlights come thick and fast.  From the swaggering brutality of Screams At The Sky to the utterly spiteful riff that defines The Blood, by way of the groove-laden propulsion of Horrendous Stressor, Psych-War leave you nowhere to hide.