On Earth As It Is in Hell

Martyr A.D. – On Earth As It Is In Hell (Victory Records)
Well, it’s a Victory release, so you know that means this is what you expect it to be: metalcore. A nice mix of hardcore and metal (in that order), with awesome gruff vocals, intense drumming, and a clear (almost embarrassing) Slayer influence, but it does manage to keep things mostly interesting by throwing in a few grind influences here and there. Overall, very aggressive and brutal, and the guitar playing actually stands out. Recommended.

Tracks:
1) Intro.
2) Awesome ripper with a bridge that screams Slayer. Too many damn FCCs, though.
3) Some really hardcore guitar squeals over grind-like drumming and vocals that walk the fine line between Tom Araya and Mike Score. Killer breakdown, too.
4) Way metal beginning, and the chorus is actually melodic (not vocally, though); in fact, sounds a little like recent Soilwork.
5) Damn, this is so brutal and nasty, and yet catchy with some awesome guitar lines. Hardcore breakdown with FCC (“nothing fucking left”) at –1:10, sick.
6) Great guitar lines, but way too many FFCs.
7) A little like Hatebreed, but better, and with pounding drums and vocals. Excellent chorus, too, with some almost black metal riffs.
8) Minute-long instrumental with all sorts of samples and stuff, thoroughly punishing.
9) Another short, minute-long song, but the last 20 seconds have three FCCs in them (“fucking”).
10) Sounds like a stunted melo-death song, great riffing, but FCC at –2:24 (“do you fucking blame me”). Catch it and bleep it, ‘cos the song rules.
11) FFCs at –2:40 (“fucked”) and –1:24 (“motherfucker”), but otherwise a great song with some fantastic breakdowns and really good, catchy riffs.
12) Reprise of the second track, all-instrumental, mid-paced riff-laden goodness, much more melodic than earlier stuff, and with the Slayer influence toned down.