In the Midst of Lions

Lions are often described as courageous, but In the Midst of Lions are afraid to try anything new on Shadows. The members of this band are clearly adept at their instruments, as demonstrated on the After the Burial-esque guitar leads in "Cry of the Oppressed" and "New Beginnings." But while After the Burial intersperse their shred with groovy djent breaks, In the Midst of Lions cram their songs with breakdowns. Sure, this album is heavy, but it's also heavily derivative of the their peers in the current metal scene. These lions certainly have the bite of their namesake, but if they truly want to be one of the leaders in the scene, they'll need to show the courage to branch out.