Review by JD on November 7, 2008.

All the hype that I have been hearing about Panic Cell has finally has landed on my desk and staring me squarely in the face. Now I get to see for myself whether the hype that has been created holds any real water, or if it just ends up sinking into the murky gloom of the Metal abyss to never be heard from again. I turn on the CD player, with pen and paper in hand... I then dive in.

Hailing from historic London, England, one of the homes of the NWBHM movement of the early to mid 80's... Panic Cell on first glance seem to be just like many of the more commercial side of rock that is trying to pass themselves off as metal today (Sevendust comes to mind). What comes out and hits my awaiting mind, makes me relax.

The song writing is way better than I had first was expecting, albeit a little basic in some places... but overall PC kept me really interested. The guitarists seem to have it together and are well versed in creating a great feel while banging away with metal goodness. It seemed like these guys really are trying to be metal, and succeeding I might add... with being a little more what you might call commercial. They have a fire burning in their collective guts that is hard to ignore, and I had to give it a nod.

These guys are exactly what I have been really waiting for in the next crop of NU-Metal to turn into. They are smart, very classy, more than able musicians and above all... they do not forget that if they are trying to be metal, so they play metal. Raise your horns in the air, England’s next wave of metal is crashing the shores of North America... take note, and just enjoy!

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 7
Originality:7
Overall: 7


Rating: 7 out of 10