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From the wilds of Johannesburg, South Africa, comes Chaos Doctrine, a death/thrash act that's been around for roughly 14 years that I've not heard of until their latest album showed up on my radar. I can't speak for earlier releases, but Bellum works in a novel breed of the style that stands on a very heavy base of industrial music that, when mixed with death metal ferocity and thrashy riffs, creates a mechanical, almost futuristic sound that reminds me a good bit of the now-defunct Canadian act Inner Thought. I will say that their reliance on industrial sounds robs the music of catchiness and makes it feel almost alien, which was likely their intent, but it does mean that it's a difficult album to really get into. "Heretic" is the easiest to get into due to focusing more on the death/thrash aspect of their sound, but most songs are like the opener "Lifting the Veil" and stuffed with oddball arrangements and cold, unfriendly industrial qualities that takes a few listens to really get into. I can't say this is a great album, and it certainly isn't for everyone, but Bellum challenges its listeners with an unorthodox approach that stands out in a sea of orthodoxy, which is more than I can say for a lot of bands these days. Bold, unpleasant, and occasionally great, this is worth tracking down for anyone wanting something different.