UMUR
"Sentenced to Life" is the 2nd full-length studio album by US thrash/death/crust act Black Breath. The album was released through Southern Lord Recordings in March 2012. The group created quite a stir with "Heavy Breathing (2010)" and with "Sentenced to Life" they are now ready to deliver another album loaded with aggressive tunes.
The music on "Sentenced to Life" is a hybrid of thrash, death and crust/hardcore. As such there´s little new under the sun compared to "Heavy Breathing (2010)", but it´s obvious the band have honed their songwriting craft and musicianship and that the tracks on "Sentenced to Life" are even more effectful and memorable than were the case on the debut. From the opening notes of "Feast of the Damned" to the closing notes of "Obey" you are attacked by brutal buzzing guitar riffs in the old school Swedish "Sunlight" death metal style and sound, hardcore punked drumming and a raw and shouting "hardcore" type vocalist spitting out caustic aggression. Add a bit of early Slayer influence to the mix and you pretty much have the sound of Black Breath. The music on the album is generally very energetic and head bang inducing too and with a total playing time of 32:42 "Sentenced to Life" is the kind of album that´s almost over before you notice it. No fillers here.
The band are very well playing and the sound production is raw and powerful. Something that suits the music perfectly. Upon conclusion "Sentenced to Life" is simply a high quality energetic extreme metal album that´ll leave you bleeding in the gutter. While that may not sound very pleasant, I´ll take the beating and enjoy it. A 4 - 4.5 star (85%) rating is deserved.