This Italian 6 piece metal band has been slugging it out for a decade. Though “The Silencer” is only their second full-length, it comes across as a recording by a group who’s done many a record and knows it’s way around a recording studio. INFLICTION blends classic metal, old school thrash, death metal and goth in the most natural and unfragmented way. They extol these styles rather effectively throughout the duration of “The Silencer”. Some of the music brings to mind “Into the Pandemonium” era CELTIC FROST. Singer Bjorn Goosses (recently recruited from NIGHT IN GALES as a replacement for longtime vocalist I.R.) dons Tom G. Warrior’s goth vocal leanings and a bit of Peter Murphy to boot.

One of the catchier tunes “Poisonradio” ironically makes me think they are taking a piss on the Clear Channel scumbags, but I think the lyrics have different meanings to the band. I wish there was a lyric sheet in this promo edition of “The Silencer” as I get the impression of a band with something to say. Not sure if “Paperlife” is about a diary or an adage to superficiality, but the keyboards are quite catchy in an almost “Tubular Bells/Exorcist” pattern. “Thirstyseven” comes out of its classic thrash metal sound into some keyboard heavy bridge out of left field. There are plenty of ambitious arrangements to go around on “The Silencer” and this composition personifies it. Closing out this impressive effort is the beautiful acoustic shorty “Closer” and a cover of the ULTRAVOX’s “The Voice” which comes closer to the original than one would imagine. INFLICTION delivers the goods.

- Herring

OFFICIAL SITE: myspace.com/inflictionitaly

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