Dutch thrash metallers CALLENISH CIRCLE really put some effort into making their fifth full-length somewhat different. Although their sound is basically still very Swedish sounding melodic thrash this time they've added synths and other electronic elements to their music. This mainly due to the production of Gail Liebling, founding member of Dutch industrial goth rockers GAIL OF GOD, whose vocalist Kaleen also guests on this record. Of course the combination of metal riffs with electronics has been done lots of times before but this is one of those rare cases where it actually works. CALLENISH CIRCLE has always been of The Netherlands' better thrash metal bands but truth be told originality has never been one of their strong points. Like I said their death/thrash has always sounded very Swedish and that influence can still be heard. But those new industrial/electronic elements actually add something surprisingly refreshing to their music. Not exactly a given with such a limited genre (not to mention with so many lousy 'industrial' bands). Thrash metal purists will probably frown at tracks like "Ignorant" and "Schwarzes Licht", due to their very prominent synth lines, but less narrow-minded metalheads aiming for quality will probably enjoy the hell out of this album. Musically and production-wise it's excellent. One of the better recent thrash metal releases, and I'm not just saying that because I'm a Dutchie too!!

- Van Hoften

OFFICIAL SITE: myspace.com/callenishcircle

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