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Sometimes life just isn't fair, as such you have to feel bad for these gifted Brazilians. Is it fair to be punished for producing a debut that represented everything that is great about metal, an album that most would agree was an instant classic, yet some in the jaded metal community are perpetrating such a crime, being that the consensus opinion toward Hibria's sophomore effort The Skull Collectors is that it does not measure up to Defying The Rules, simply because more was expected. Perhaps some are annoyed because we had to wait four years for the follow-up, and as a result of the long wait the anticipation level grew to unattainable heights. So I entered into with an impartial mind, allowing for sufficient soak time through repeated listens, and thus following careful deliberation I have reached a final verdict....The Skull Collectors is fantastic and on par with the debut on every level!

Lets begin with the powerful soaring vocals of Iuri Sanson. The guy is a non-stop air raid siren who possesses incredible mid-range power, while belting out glass shattering high-end shrieks. The twin guitar attack of Abel Camargo and Diego Kasper shred the listener's ass into finely mowed mulch with an unrelenting barrage of speedy, angry riffs and blistering duelling solos. The bass playing of Marco Panichi is another one of the album highlights; he springs out of the gate on album opener "Tiger Punch" with dazzling brilliance, proving once again that with the proper amount of skill and creativity the bass can and should be as important an element to the music as the guitars. The songs are speedy, aggressive and loaded with healthy doses of melody and catchiness, and the production exceeds that of the debut in terms of its overall power.

With The Skull Collectors you get a heaping helping of good old fashioned kickass Heavy Metal. Hopefully fans will not have to wait another four years for the next album, but regardless, The Skull Collectors will undoubtedly keep anxious palates wet for a good long time. An essential purchase!