Review by JD on May 28, 2012.

I write about the metal scene for the sole reason that I have such a love and passion for metal from when I was just about thirteen onward to today. It has kept me playing in metal bands, writing about metal like a fiend and simply wanting to find more metal as well. Obsession? Yes!! With the submission of a Russian metallic juggernaut Stalwart now crossing my desk, upon hearing it, it has completely reaffirmed every second of my life long passion and deep down appreciation of this music. Fuck Yeah!!

Thrash/Death beasts Stalwart are one of the most amazing yet entirely unknown acts around. With some of the most brutal riffing that crosses the boundaries of Death and Thrash, melding them together into a sonic assault that would make a nuclear strike pale in comparison. They have keyboards scattered throughout the album, something which I usually don’t like in metal, but their addition accents and bolsters their metal attack to a height that few will ever match.

Just take the time to hear and behold the ripping guitar work on 'The Karma Circle' as it pounds into your soul and takes your breath away with the intelligent lyrics that draw you in... then behold the thrashy majesty of the title track as it puts into perspective how good this band is... and the rest of the CD is just as good. Other bands have played a sort of Death/Thrash style over the years, but none of these wannabes could every do it as good or as heavy as Stalwart does.

Go out and buy this album right now. Tell your friends to get out there and buy this CD as well while you do it! Stalwart clearly showcases exactly what I have been preaching about metal for all of these years. This little known yet needing-to-be-known band just puts an huge exclamation mark on my statement and then delivers it to you like a fist in a metal spiked glove... right square in the face.

Horns up, and salute Stalwart. They came, they saw, and they kick major fucking ass on fake metal. Russia now has their own metal gods on their hands and that band is poised to take over the world with passion fuelled, nasty and viciously incredible metal.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 10
Atmosphere: 10
Production: 9.5
Originality: 10
Overall:10

Rating: 9.9 out of 10