Review by JD on November 8, 2012.

It seems as soon as you dive into the vast talent pool of metal, you see two very distinct sides come very clear. One side is the showcases the multitudes of talent that most any other style of music never begin to match, the other is less glamorous side of things - the side with the sound alikes that seem never to find their own voice in the metal and muddies the pool into a thick murkiness. German Technical Deathers Sophicide come cannonballing into this pool... which side will they be lumped on to.

Originally started as just a one man project out of Hesse, Sophicide has doubled in size and cranks out some very barbarous Technical Death Metal splattered with this almost artistic flair that is refreshing as it is deadly explosive. This two come at you sort with all the fire of Bloodbath, but with some old school Death and even Trivium as well. They put that all into one, stirred and you have a Death Metal Vortex of insane razor sharp riffing, battering drum blasts which is all piloted with talent that is so high.

With songs like the title track or 'Freedom Of Mind', the key is insane speed with brutal heaviness wrapped up in the almost Malmsteen-going-Death vibe. It makes every song of Sophicide stand out and make itself known, as it pounds your brain into mush. With all of this talent driving this beast - the engine is so blatantly honest and brutal metal at its finest.

A few changes with the recording process and the usual maturing of an artist, and this would be a ten across the board. As it stands now, this still is one of those surprising releases that really has made me one very happy headbanger - and it will serve the metal masses as well. Hail to all!

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9.5
Production: 7
Originality: 9
Overall: 9

Rating: 8.7 out of 10