American sludge metal specialists KINGDOM OF SORROW are back with Behind The Blackest Tears, blowing out speakers across the globe with twelve songs performed by the super duo of vocalist Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED/ICEPICK) and guitarist Kirk Windstein (DOWN/CROWBAR). The album – recorded at Dexter Lab Recordings in Milford, Connecticut – kicks off nicely with the purely brutal “Enlightened to Extinction”, which is next followed by track number two’s perfectly punishing “God’s Law in the Devil’s Land”.
What I dig here the most – to be straight up – is that Jasta finally pushes himself to use a wider range in his vocal delivery – that you just will not hear him do in HATEBREED. At one point, you would think METALLICA’s Hetfield is actually behind the mic. The rest of the band behind the famed tandem is impressive as well, featuring Nick Bellmore (TOXIC HOLOCAUST, PHANTOMS) on drums, Charlie Bellmore (PHANTOMS) on guitar and Matthew Brunson (CROWBAR) on bass. You will hear a cool mix of DOWN-like riffs and killer choruses that will have you banging your head in no time. In my opinion, the title track “Behind The Blackest Tears” is clearly the best song of all twelve. I don’t know where Windstein goes to re-fuel up for all these heavy ass riffs he continuously designs… but one thing is for sure, he is quickly becoming one of metal’s best at it since BLACK SABBATH’s Tony Iommi and PANTERA’s Dimebag Darrell.
If you’re a fan of southern metal music or not, Behind The Blackest Tears delivers just what this heavy metal reviewer demands: well thought out songs that leave you wanting more. I think it will be even more interesting to see what comes from the next offering from Jasta and Windstein.
They’ll either get heavier… or just entirely drop off after this one… cause it doesn’t get much better than “Behind The Blackest Tears”.
ROCKET REVIEW:[starreview tpl=16]
KINGDOM OF SORROW –
“Behind The Blackest Tears” (CD)
(Relapse/2010)
1. Enlightened to Extinction
2. God’s Law in the Devil’s Land
3. Monuments of Ash
4. Behind the Blackest Tears
5. Envision the Divide
6. From Heroes To Dust
7. Along The Path To Ruin
8. With Barely A Breath
9. The Death We Owe
10. Sleeping Beast
11. Torchlight Procession
12. Salvation Denied
http://www.myspace.com/kingdomofsorrow
This album absolutely kills from beginning to end. It’s more melodic than the first but just as heavy. And it’s a great thing that Jasta actually does more than his trademark yell.