Album Review: Every Time I Die - From Parts Unknown

Few bands are more consistently ferocious than Every Time I Die. With each new record you go in kind of expecting the grip around your neck to loosen a little – you think they'll mellow out. But then you hit the play button and shake your head in disbelief because those stone-cold motherfuckers continue to outdo themselves.

From Parts Unknown is like a bolt of lightning hitting the fuse of a rocket up your arse. There is only one period of solace – if you can call it that – Moor, but even that gets ugly after a disjointed piano/vocal introduction. For the rest of the time you are getting brutalised, with every element of the band's sound beating down on you until you completely surrender. It's fucking fantastic.

As always, Keith Buckley acts as king agitator out front, spitting intellectual venom with the driest of wits, while the twin guitar attack of Jordan Buckley and bearded hulk Andy Williams manages to operate at the ridiculous warp speed set by drummer Ryan Leger. Converge's Kurt Ballou does an incredible job finding production balance within detonating tracks like The Great Secret and If There's Room To Move, while The Gaslight Anthem's Brian Fallon nails his vocal contribution on Old Light.

Continuing to pick up steam right until the final jagged notes of Idiot, From Parts Unknown kicks like a mule from front to back, leaving you dazed by the end of it all, in need of a cigarette and a good lie down.