Since forming the band in 1988, vocalist Dwid Hellion, has led Integrity on a mission to both terrify and educate people to his views. During that time, they have not only upset more than a few people, but have been uncompromising in their approach with Dwid ensuring that their focus stays true no matter how many musicians pass through the ranks. With an intense sound that melds together high-velocity hardcore punk, heavy metal, thrash and angular, noisy guitar riffs with lyrical themes that include religion, the supernatural, mental illness, individualism, the occult, and Holy Terrorism, they have been one of the pioneering forces that forged the worlds of hardcore and metal together. Their influence on hundreds, if not thousands of bands can still be heard to this day.
Here with their twelfth studio album we have a conceptual foretelling of the final days of Armageddon. It is a manifestation of Pentecostal nightmares and religious depravities, wrought with fire and brimstone sermons and occult prophecies bathed in waves of destruction. The album, heavily inspired by the Satanic-Panic era of 1980's heavy metal and its effect on culture is an extremely moody, diverse and aggressive offering. While Motörhead are an undoubted influence, this album does also cross into raw black metal territory and there are some incredibly melodic and delicate passages that contrast greatly with the aggression and attack of what is around it. It is one that repays repeated listening’s, as when I first played it I wasn’t that impressed, only really coming to terms with the nuances and dynamics on the third or fourth time around. For those who want their metal a bit rough around the edges.
