Artist: Lazarus AD
Title: Black Rivers Flow
Type: Album
Label: Metal Blade Records

Having never heard their debut, I can't make any comparisons to this their follow-up album, but shall quickly state that 'Black Rivers Flow' is a really good thrash record and since they make a rather big deal about it, shall mention that James Murphy of Safehouse Productions handled the mixing and mastering thereon. Both Dan Gapen (Guitar) and Jeff Paulick (Bass) take on the vocal duties, with the latter taking the lion's share. Slowing building up layers of sound 'til a slow heavy guitar takes precedence over the faster tremolo guitar and Ryan Shutler's drums pick up a solid beat for chorus of "American Dreams" to be song over. The vocalists work well together, bouncing the lyrics off each other and adding emphasis by doubling them up. A drum barrage kicks off "The Ultimate Sacrifice", following quickly be a guitar lead by Alex Lackner. I really like the way the different vocal styles are fused together, with both doing clean and slightly rougher screams and shouts giving 4 distinct variations in sound. "The Strong Prevail" is the shortest track on the album and that could well be owing to the pace it is played at, while "Black Rivers Flow" remains slowly and steadily with the melodic clean vocals of the chorus making it sound a little less heavy that the song actually is. "Casting Forward" could fall into a similar trap, however the clean chorus vocals are tempered by the heavier ones being sung simultaneously. Displaying a bit of a pyromaniac tendency "Light a City (Up in Smoke)" is just as fast as "Through Your Eyes" and perhaps a little heavier too. Taking the speed of the kick drums up a few notches, but also taking on a bit of rap vocal timing signature, "Beneath the Waves of Hatred" really gets your head bobbing during the lead trade offs. Starting off acoustically "Eternal Vengeance" has a beautiful ballad-like quality to it, but soon enough the anger takes over the music and the more familiar sound of twin vocals and guitars with pounding drums and driving bass bring you to the epic lead solo before blasting off again into its catchy chorus. I found this album really easy to listen to and extremely enjoyable. They're currently touring the States, so it would be really nice if they managed to make their way over here, as I'd really like to catch them live.

http://www.metalblade.com
http://www.myspace.com/lazarus1