Integrity

Integrity formed in 1988, half a decade before Hatebreed. It's a shame, then, that many listeners will categorize the opening riff of the elder band's ninth full-length, Suicide Black Snake, as a Hatebreed riff. If that sounds worrisome, Integrity fans can relax knowing that said riff in question sounds like Jasta and co. before they decided to cater to the lowest common denominator. Whereas Hatebreed reached a point where they throttled back the hardcore and pumped up the pandering metal, this album makes it clear that at a similar crossroads, Integrity decided Slayer was the only metal band worth replicating. As always, Integrity's mixture of hardcore and metal is dark, but on Suicide Black Snake that sound comes with a slight bluesy tinge, similar to Coalesce's OX. "Into The Night" is the biggest misstep on the album however, and the title an indication where the track should have disappeared to. Despite Integrity's proclamation that "There Ain't No Living In Life," Suicide Black Snake says otherwise for this 25-year-old band.