Signal The Firing Squad - Abnegate

Signal The Firing Squad from the Sunshine Coast of Queensland are back with their second full length album and it does not disappoint in the slightest. 'Abnegate' proves that STFS are leading the way for heaviness and brutality in the Australian Death Metal scene.

A five piece force that unleashes some of the most heavy hitting and crunching sounds I have heard for quite a long time. I've had the pleasure of seeing STFS live a couple of times and they seem to be getting bigger and better with a fast growing fan base and a live show that has everybody in the place moving. This band has everything I look for including technical guitar work, incredible drum patters, brutal vocals and punishing breakdowns. 'Abnegate' also features some very special guest vocalists such as Alex Erian from the legendary Despised Icon and Daniel Sharp of Melbourne’s very own Boris The Blade. Something else I have to mention is this has one of the coolest albums cover designs I have ever seen, as you can clearly see above. The thing I love about 'Abnegate' is that it isn't like every other Deathcore release, it's fresh and different with some new and innovative sounds. The drumming is absolute insane on here and it caught my attention straight away. Some very impressive guitar work and solos while maintaining absolute heaviness, with earth shattering breakdowns accompanied with some amazing riffs and shredding. Topped off with ferocious vocals from their new beast of a front man who commands you to listen and definitely doesn't want anybody standing still at any of their live shows, trust me. There aren't really any dull moments on this album to be honest, it has me repeatedly listening over and over for new bits that I may have missed. Signal The Firing Squad really does deserve to be waving the flag for heavy Australian music, along with Thy Art Is Murder, Make Them Suffer and Resist The Thought. They have all the key elements and the technical ability to win new fans and keep growing as a band. This album is definitely a step in the right direction and will only do good things for them. There's no room on this album for a rest period, it is relentless from start to finish. Many bands can try and come up with new ways to keep it fresh and interesting, some fail at it, but Signal have hit the nail on the head here. Not one song sounds the same and that's something that is a real treat, especially in this type of genre.

'Abnegate' is a breath of fresh air. If you're looking for something that isn't your everyday 'Deathcore' release then be sure to give this a listen. It's heavy, technical and dynamic which all adds up to be an incredible album. It will be in my top picks of 2012 come the end of the year. You can purchase it on iTunes or go and check out their store and show your support by grabbing a copy of the CD and some merch right here www.signalthefiringsquad.bigcartel.com/

Standout tracks: Abnegate, Abominator, Human – Redefined, Inearthed.

8/10