Betrayal

It's been four years since the last Necropanther full-length, The Doomed City, but here we finally have their fourth proper album, and I think it's their best one. This album seems less tied to the old conventions of Melodeath, and has opened up the door to far more Thrash influence. And while it is true I am not much of a Thrash fan, I do really like when it creeps into other genres. Betrayal, as a result, features more coherent songwriting with a much more riff-oriented approach. The leads from ex-Wastoid guitarist Joe Johnson are sometimes spectacular, and vocalist Paul Anop has leavened his rather faceless screech with a deeper bellow that adds some interest on the vocal side. All told this is the most enjoyable release so far from this band.