Act of God

It took an unpleasantly long time, but Pro-Pain finally cranked out an album that's mildly enjoyable to listen. It's not incredible by any standard, but it is in fact listenable, which is a step up from their previous works. I'm actually willing to listen to this and pay some vague attention to it. Good job, Pro-Pain!

Pro-Pain on this album took something of a step back from their pure hardcore sound and started to reincorporate the thrash/groove material they occasionally experimented with, but this time also added a helping of hard rock. To my amazement, it actually helps the music out dramatically, giving it some of the added focus and momentum that it had been missing for so long. The uptempo sections are decidedly rocking and get you moving while the slower, more hardcore and metal influenced sections are interesting enough to keep your attention. It's not incredibly by any means but it WORKS.

The production is clean and strong and present, which is quite good for such immediate music. As usual, it's simple instrumentally and in writing, but in this case the simplicity is functional and solid throughout. It's not fascinating, but it grabs my attention at certain point. Hell, maybe Pro-Pain should just become a full-fledged rock band, as when those influences come out in full they're at their best.

Congrats, Pro-Pain. You've managed to make a decent album that I'm willing to listen to on occasion. Those who hated the band's previous releases might be persuaded to check this one out and give them a second chance. Keep your expectations low but your mind open and you might find enough fun here to be worth your time.

This is definitely the most solid of the Pro-Pain releases. The riffs have an extra bite, an extra dose of uptempo thrashiness to them. Also, the songwriting is far more consistent from beginning to end, in that the end is just about as strong as the beginning.

Is there anything out of place on this album for Pro-Pain fans? No. It's the band doing what they do best - punkish thrash metal with shitloads of groove, meanwhile not subjecting themselves to Stupid Human Tricks. All the riffs here are fucking solid, in the New York thrash vein.

Highlights... probably "Act of God" for its sheer speed, though "In For the Kill" is nice too, for that slightly-above-midpaced bludgeon-your-face-in value, as is "Burn" with its great under-verses headbanging riff. In other words, the highlights are scattered, and not clustered - this is enjoyable from beginning to end. Crank this one up loud!