• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Back in the 90's, Root released an onslaught of brilliant albums the like of which will probably never be equaled: Zjeveni, The Temple in the Underworld, The Book. Only one – Black Seal – was released in 2001, but since then the band embarked on a long slide downward, releasing only three albums in the last decade (as opposed to six in the decade before that) and those only of middling quality. The obvious factor was the departure of guitarist Blackie Hosek, who was responsible for the band's finest moments and who left them in 2004 after the weak Madness of the Graves.

This mini-history lesson is by way of saying I didn't expect anything really good from this band. Their last album was frankly terrible, and despite Big Boss' enormous talent and charisma, his tastes have run to weird cover songs and bizarre satanic lounge music rather than anything badass. What a surprise then that this is not only a definite Root album, it kicks a fair amount of ass to boot.

This is Root, which means punishing heaviness, a dark and evil atmosphere, and the inimitable Big Boss on vocals. This guy has been a Satanic Heavy Metal fiend since most of you were an itch in your Daddy's pants, as he is almost 60 and still owns your candy ass. His big, booming voice mixed with aggressive bellowing and those long, muttering demonic invocations is a sound like no one else. You hear him, and you know this is a Root album.

Stompers like "Revenge of Hell" and "His Coming" are slices of meaty evil like this band has not produced in years. This may not equal their ancient classics, but it sure is a welcome return to form.