By Greg Northrup

            Utterly brilliant. From the opening strains of "Moonshield" to the dying notes of "Dead God In Me", this album is pure metallic ecstasy. All the songs are fast, catchy, and packed with killer riffs. The infectious "Artifacts Of The Black Rain" and the title track provide the listener with the best in 90's heavy metal. Along with Amorphis' Elegy , this is one of the two best albums of '96. There not much else to say about this album except that it is as close to perfect as any album can possibly be, and that it is essential.