Kingdom of Sorrow

Kingdom of Sorrow's 2008 debut CD was a letdown. Considering the parts (Hatebreed's Jamey Jasta and Crowbar's Kirk Windstein), that shit should have been huge. But it just didn't add up right, coming across like a lesser version of both bands, with a stiff, overdone production to boot. Here on attempt number two, that production, unfortunately, remains ― this band could benefit from something rawer. But the parts that before were lesser versions of NOLA sludge kings Crowbar are now like the best of Crowbar: the opening riff in "God's Law in the Devil's Land" is the best swamp/sludge riff in years. The title track nods to classic metal and also to Crowbar's earlier years, with much success. Elsewhere, like on "Sleeping Beast" and closer "Salvation Denied," the hardcore influence shines through, but those tunes are just hugely overproduced, simplistic hardcore, which isn't anything worth getting excited about. There are moments of excellence, but mainly it whets the appetite for a new Crowbar album.