Southern Front have just unleashed their newest creation titled Join Or Die to the masses. With Texas being known as a hot bed for metal (The Destro, Drowning Pool, Pissing Razors, Pantera, etc.) and having the slogan “Everything’s bigger in Texas,” will these Austin boys go big, or go home?

The album starts off with the fiery “Opposition.” Instantly, Southern Front’s style and sound will be compared to metal heavyweights Lamb Of God. There is no denying the fact that this band is heavily influenced by the Virginia metallers in every aspect. Guitarists Jon Butler and Jason Bingham bring the fire with blistering riffs and incredible precision, while Vocalist Zak Ward (aka Randy Blythe Jr.) is just plain nasty behind the mic.

One thing I noticed was the overall production of the album. While it’s not bad, it’s not great either. The guitars are very heavy in the mix with the vocals almost buried directly underneath them. Ward is a strong frontman and should really standout above the axes. The drums are muddy (with the exception of the cymbals) and the bass is, at times, nonexistent. With a band like this that prides itself on instrument accuracy, it’s not only necessary but imperative that all the instruments are clear in the mix. Unfortunately, this is not the case with Join Or Die.

“Worm” and “Artificial Faith” are tracks that will probably garner a few spins. “Worm” opens with a Texas-sized groove that will surely rattle the earth’s very foundation, while Ward’s demon-like growls are just plain disgusting. There are a few spots where the song tends to drudge along with the band jamming instead of pushing forward. I believe they could have easily cut a minute off the top, making it a lean beast and THE definitive song on the album. “Artificial Faith” is loaded with samples, big thumping grooves, and gnarly vocals. The major drawback on this track is just how repetitious it is. While that’s kind of a bummer, it’s still a cool song to crush minions to.

Songs like “Demonseed” and “See Sharp” could have been taken directly out of Lamb Of God’s directory. Both tracks incorporate menacing guitars, nasty vocals, and decent enough grooves to stand on their own. There is a strange part at the end of “See Sharp” where the band is jamming; I don’t know if it’s just mixed weird or the drummer quit playing his cymbals, but it sounds odd. It only happens for a couple seconds but it’s enough of a distraction to notice.

Later in the album, Southern Front add in some old school thrash stylings with “Structural Chaos.” This thrash-fest instrumental incorporates Metallica-esque (Master Of Puppets and …And Justice For All era) riffs, double bass, breakdowns and solos. It does show the incredible musicianship of the band, but it feels kind of pointless and really out of place.

From the opening note, Southern Front place all their cards on the table and never really deviate too far from it. Join Or Die is an album that shows a band with a bright future and a ton of talent. It’s just a talent that needs to be further harnessed, fleshed out, and focused.

3.0/5