It's been a while since I found some metal, worthy of it's time.  Mostly it's because the guitars are terrific but the vocals don't bite as well.  Knoxville, TN, though never known for its metal roots, has certainly been diversifying its own scene over the last few years.  Next coming out of the traditionally Country part of the country, is Downslave.

 

Now, don't get all excited about a new breed of Heavy Metal, as these guys as sharp as they be, there's nothing groundbreaking here to make their sound above and beyond any of the "TIYL" section.  The "Intro" track is slow and drowning in a tedious but impressive solo, while the rhythm section bellows a jarring trail ahead. The first LP track is "Unnamed" and almost immediately the mysterey of the vocals is met with a firm grip.  This track as do most here has a constant pace that will give these guys more credibility than most Metal acts in the 21st century.  The title track, as you can imagine is a blistering mixture of melodies, though slightly repetitive (again like the most of the record), this one of the stronger tracks here.

For those that need power and speed at its most, the aptly titled "Pit Approved" probably has the most Thrash feel and features a phenomenal vocal bridge just over two minutes in. One of the drawbacks to such a sincere Metal effort has always been track length.  The longest track on Cost Of Freedom is "Hated" just a few seconds shy of minutes.  This is probably the best track, all aspects of the sound will give you a nostalgia for the first time you heard Vulgar Display of Power. 

 

 

Downslave has a few handicaps, starting with the fact that you don't even have to listen to their music to figure out their sound.  Honestly, that's what makes them so impressive. Regardless of how predictable their sound and genre, they are crisp and brutal, and I'm curious to experience if they have the same aggression in concert.