Review by JD on March 7, 2016.

Modern metal is a different sort of beast, and one I have a half hate and half love relationship with. Some just snub their noses at the old guard while others try to learn from the metal elite to make their own brand of metal. Contracrash is one band balanced on the edge of the two metal realms.

This German band crosses many genres of metal and even rock as well. Thrash, modern, rock and even a touch of symphonic goes through the sixty seven minutes it plays. Clean to guttural vocals and at moment’s serious thrash to nu-metal grinding; the band seems to be digging the niche for themselves one song at a time.

At times they blow me away with its sheer power. Songs like the metal/rock hybrid 'The Final Curtain' and the surprising acoustic ballad 'With Fingers Crossed' show a band that can write solid songs and yet with the nu-metal grind of 'How It Feels To Burn' loses itself in mediocrity of shouts and uninspired riffs. It is as if Contracrash is confused with what direction the band needs to take. Which makes it confusing… even though the band has won awards with their music in their homeland?

I find the album confusing throughout, leaving me wondering just what direction this band wants to go in. Yes, it shows Contracrash to have great versatility that few can match, but the lack of direction is hard to ignore. That alone, makes this album both interesting and perplexing – and inevitably, the mind wanders off.

Rating: 7 out of 10