This record doesn’t get very much love, and I understand why. It’s less polished, and more gritty than For Victory. While each previous record seemed to build upon, progress, and improve their overall sound, this one is a regression. Songs are a bit darker, and more plodding but in a dragging way, more repetitive, less dynamic and longer overall. It isn’t groundbreaking, and is maybe even a sign of the late 90s, having more “groove” than previous releases. Their previous drummer was ousted before this record, and it is perhaps telling that the vocalist left the band after this record. There’s also a new record label involved - jumping from Earache to Metal Blade seemed to leave the production quality behind. The mix is completely flat, a major step back from For Victory. Not helping is that my copy is warped, and just sounds awful.
Despite all that I do really like this record; there’s plenty of catchiness and good riffs / hooks throughout. Another upside for the haters is that it marks the return of the World Eater riff, which did not show up on For Victory - this time on Powder Burns. I also think the artwork is cool. It is not Bolt Thrower’s finest, but at their less-than-best, they’re still great.