Warthur Hypocrisy's The End of Disclosure spices up their melodic death metal approach with some almost punk-like gestures of defiance against authority along with a preoccupation with UFOs. Despite the out-there subject matter it's actually one of the more accessible melodic death metal albums I've come across - 44 Double Zero, a tribute to the TV show The 4400, in particular I can almost imagine getting some radio play - so the album might disappoint those in the market for raw, ugly brutality. For my part, though, I think it's some very entertaining light death metal which still packs enough of a punch to save the band from embarrassment, though by that same token it's hardly essential.

Kev Rowland Hypocrisy originally started as a pure solo project, with Peter Tägtgren playing everything on the first demo, but when that gained him a contract with Nuclear Blast he brought together some guys to record ‘Penetralia’. It’s hard to imagine that the guys have been around so long as apart from a short-lived break-up the band have been active throughout. While Peter provides vocals and guitars, he is of course joined by Mikael Hedlund on bass who has been by Peter’s side since the first line-up, and drummer Horgh who came into the band in 2004. Peter has also built up a career as produced with bands such as Dimmu Borgir and of course he has produced this album himself at his Abyss Studio in Sweden. The sound is colossal, with these guys kicking up an incredible onslaught of noise. There has always been a concern in some circles that a death metal band shouldn’t sound so damn commercial and melodic but I have no problem at all with that. This album contains all that one would expect from a death metal band, but as well as the brutality there is a control and understanding of hooks and melody that are often missing.

It’s hard to put into words just how majestic and powerful this album is. From the very first notes of the very first song I knew that this was going to be something special and repeated plays have only only enforced that opinion. There is no doubt in my mind that this is taking them to a whole new level and could well be the album that finally gets them included inside the ranks of the greats of this genre. If you thought that 1993’s ‘Osculum Obscenum’ was impressive you haven’t heard anything yet. This is an essential metal album. www.nuclearblast.de