Merauder

Finally solidifying their line-up, New York hardcore outfit Merauder return with fifth effort God Is I. While one might imagine that the death of original guitarist Javier "SOB" Carpio would affect the band's overall sound and attack, these 11 tunes prove otherwise. The band are still mired in what was once a fresh approach of blending metallic guitars with hardcore's half-time tempos and guttural bellowing, best exemplified by the likes of Hatebreed. But with that sheen of freshness now clearly gone, the majority of God Is I sounds like a modest pairing of the aforementioned Jasta outfit with Gothenburg metal's current musical sterility and lack of inventiveness. As it plays out, there is a notable absence of surprising or engaging moments on God Is I. Like a Mack Truck barrelling down the highway, the album rolls along with its plainness, almost blending into the background. This isn't to say that God Is I is particularly bad; it's just predictable, which quickly turns into tedium and, after almost 45 minutes, boredom.