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I did not think much of Pressure's debut, Path of a Shadow, when I reviewed it in 2021, but figured any band, especially a new one, can put out a dud so why not give their second album, In a Dark Heart We Trust, a chance. I would soon be paying the price for my optimism.

At first, it seemed like Pressure had found a little focus, if not any great songwriting skills, with cuts like "Is This Who You Are" and "Pressure" coming across as coherent, competent metal songs. That notion would be short-lived as "Get a Real Job" is a trippy Neptune Power Federation, but not in a good way, cut that is a jarring diversion from the songs prior. Then Pressure settles in for a lot of bluesy, hard rock/heavy metal bunk, à la Load/Reload. This sure is a load of something-era Metallica on songs like "Hunter or Prey" and "Barb Wire Love." The album continues to meander about aimlessly, sometimes metal, more often not, for over an hour, but the ending is where it really gets out of hand. "Air of Freedom," the second to last track, is actively annoying with some kind of monotone sound either in the vocals or the instruments (it was hard to sit through it long enough to pin down), but the closing title track is the cherry on the top of this inedible sundae. Another lengthy, spoken-word track (like the opener on Path of a Shadow), this one featuring the male and female singer "arguing" back and forth like lovers having a fight, complete with recrimination, hurled insults, and just plain awfulness. It's the kind of argument that if you heard in public, you'd immediately turn and walk as far away as possible which, incidentally, is what I want to do with this album. I forced myself through it once to make sure I wasn't missing something, but sadly, its just an uncomfortable lover's quarrel set to background guitars and drums. Why would Pressure think anyone would want to hear that at all, to say nothing of 10 solid minutes of it?

I haven't had to sit through anything this confusing and unpleasant in a long time. On the surface, these guys can play, but neither singer is all that charismatic, the riffing is uninspired, and the songs range from just passable to downright unlistenable. I have no idea who this album is aimed at, but it sure isn't me.