Album Review: Silent Civilian - Rebirth Of The Temple (2006) A+

Sounds Like: Shadows Fall, Metallica (1980s), Sepultura (pre-Roots), Killswitch Engage, Avenged Sevenfold

What a way to start off my reviews! When Jonny Santos (vocals) left Spineshank two years ago, I read something somewhere that he wasn't interested in 'heavy' music anymore. Flash forward to 2006, and Jonny's fronting Silent Civilian, a band whose debut album just cracked my top three debuts of all time (the others being Metallica's 'Kill 'Em All' and Machine Head's 'Burn My Eyes').

Now how can this be? Well, Jonny picked up the guitar again (he only sang in Spineshank), recruited some amazingly talented guys...and wrote the best heavy metal album I've heard in three years. Gone were the electronic samples of Spineshank. Gone too was any of the nu-metalish sound that defined (or plagued, depending on your pov) Spineshank. In their place: relentless thrash riffing, virtuostic drumming, searing lead guitar, and some amazing angry/melodic vocals. 'No more heavy music' my ass.

What's amazing about this record is that it manages to sound old and new all at the same time, like an 80s thrash album warmed to today's production standards and musical climate. Special props must be given to producer Logan Mader (formerly of Machine Head) for honing the sonics here, and deliverying a warm, dynamic sounding record.

If you want an album that burns with rage but still has anthemic hooks and melodicism aplenty, look no further. If you want some amazing guitar solos, look no further. If you want a modern metal masterpiece, look no further.