The Cleveland sound was already quite steeped in metal. Melnick's previous band Integrity, alongside Ringworm, mixed hardcore with metal in the early '90s. On his long-gestating latest effort, Melnick (who performs everything except drums) intensifies the metal side, bringing in death influences such as Asphyx and Autopsy. The self-titled album features a re-recording of the project's until-now only song, "Extinction," and although that song is definitely the most agile of the bunch, those familiar with it have a pretty good inkling of the sound throughout.
Omnipresent are Melnick's bomb-loaded guitar solos, breaking up the Clevo-riffs, which seesaw back and forth between more traditional ones and those more reminiscent of Obituary. The vocals also find a similar middle ground somewhere between an old-school death growl and more straight-up yell, and although definitely the weakest part of the mix, it's rarely enough to distract from the excellent music backing it. Ultimately, it's the most exciting thing from this legendary Cleveland guitarist since the 1998 release by In Cold Blood, Hell On Earth.
(A389)Omnipresent are Melnick's bomb-loaded guitar solos, breaking up the Clevo-riffs, which seesaw back and forth between more traditional ones and those more reminiscent of Obituary. The vocals also find a similar middle ground somewhere between an old-school death growl and more straight-up yell, and although definitely the weakest part of the mix, it's rarely enough to distract from the excellent music backing it. Ultimately, it's the most exciting thing from this legendary Cleveland guitarist since the 1998 release by In Cold Blood, Hell On Earth.