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If the recent releases from Crystal Viper and Huntress made you throw your fist in the air, San Diego's Benedictum has an album you should check out. Obey is the band's fourth full-length and it brings the thrashy Heavy Metal hard and fast. Front-woman Veronica Freeman has a gravelly voice that doesn't immediately declare the nature of the singer but kicks your ass nonetheless. Her delivery reminds me a little of Testament's Chuck Billy and Helstar's James Rivera. Musically, Obey isn't quite as aggressive as those aforementioned bands but, despite a full-time keyboardist (Tony Diaz), it isn't flowery in any way, shape or form. "Fractured," "Evil That We Do" and "Apex Nation" feature riffs that will steamroll your body while Freeman jackhammers your eardrums. The best track, "Retrograde" is a long, slow song that simmers like Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir."

I can't say Obey has the most memorable songwriting but this is one of those cases where the performances outshine the material. You may not remember it afterward but while it is on, you WILL pay attention.