I’ve listened to a lot of bands. I’ve heard bands that have become household names and bands that you’ve never even heard of. As a reviewer, I listen to their music critically, and the number one constant stumbling block of these projects is originality, especially in the metalcore genre. Being similar to one’s influences is not bad, but often bands attempt to sound too much like their influences and end up with a disappointing attempt at greatness. However, occasionally I will experience a band who does a common thing uncommonly well, and Hell Within, with their release of God Grant Me Vengeance is able to do just that.

Originally formed in 1998 in Lowell, Massachusetts, under the name Twytch, the band released two demos and two EP’s before changing their name to Hell Within in 2002. The band then released two full-length albums in ’05 and ’07, and gradually gained more and more acceptance within the metal community. Hell Within signed with Thorp Records in 2009 after dropping their previous label Lifeforce Records. With a drop date of July 13th, the band’s third studio album entitled God Grant Me Vengeance will be finally unleashed upon the masses.

Production wise, God Grant Me Vengeance was blessed to be recorded at Damage Studios by engineer/producer Pete Rutcho (Bury Your Dead, Corpus Christi). The mastering job was done quite beautifully; the album brings an arena sized sound which strikes a heavenly balance between the instruments and vocalist JJ Long’s ruthless assault. All-in-all, the album’s production as a whole is flawless. Kudos to Damage Studios for such an excellent job.

God Grant Me Vengeance kicks off with “Condemning The Bloodline” which is a perfect example of thrashy metalcore, if you like to label sounds by genre. Exceptionally potent is drummer Derek Jay’s slamming (especially his footwork), which gives all the tracks on this record such a powerfully tenacious drive, you couldn’t stop it with a SWAT team barricade. Adept examples of this include “Scars In Oblivion”, “Deliverance”, “The Rebirth”, “God Grant Me Vengeance”, and “Lament For The Fallen”. “Scars In Oblivion” is without a doubt one of the top tracks on this album, as Hell Within pours into it with a diverse section of musicianship and vocals. Isaias Martinez and Tony Zimmerman churn out remorseless and devastating riffs throughout, their skill matching beautifully with the exceptional drumming and JJ’s compelling singing. The six-stringers also have another trick up their sleeves–excellent soloing. “Hours Of Decay” and “Lament For The Fallen” (especially the former) are the best examples of this, as they unfurl blistering high end melodies which are again complemented by skilled drumming.

Throughout the entire record, Hell Within’s style of heavy thrash influenced triple-chugs, blazing drums, and overall breakneck speed and brutality is balanced by melodic guitar solos, technically diverse riffs, and excellent clean vocals. Barely any aspects of God Grant Me Vengeance support a musical inferiority; however I did notice a slight similarity throughout all the tracks on the album, but in my opinion, this is not a shortcoming. Think of it as a collaboration of the famous artist Pablo Picasso’s works, all are easily recognized as being of the same origin, yet they are all readily distinguishable from each other.

After many spins, I was honored to be one of the first outsiders to listen this album critically and subsequently pass it on to you, the masses. Hell Within have created their first true masterpiece, an unbreakable onslaught of fearless power, ferocity, and originality. I hope the band can certainly keep it up, because if they can, we can expect great things from this five-piece.

5.0/5