3 Inches Of Blood — Fire Up The Blades

Each generation of metal bands seems hell-bent on one-upping the last one by raising the levels of extremity beyond what was previously considered "heavy." Every few years, bands manage to fit more notes in their solos and raise their BPMs to new heights, throwing down the gauntlet for yet another band to riff harder and scream louder. The newest contenders are Vancouver's 3 Inches Of Blood. The band mix power metal with the muscle of modern metalcore for a listening experience that's sure to damage your ears. Cam Pipes' falsetto would make Rob Halford raise his gloved fist in approval, and Jamie Hooper provides the growls that pack even more punch into the mix. Halfway through, the album becomes like quicksand with its thick, unrelenting riffage. If you can get through Fire Up The Blades in one sitting, you can survive anything in 2007.

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