MAKE SURE YOUR SPEAKERS ARE MOUNTED SECURELY…
The 2004 debut album by The Showdown was quite revolutionary, probably the truest throwback to ’80s metal that the evolving hard music genre had ever seen. While The Darkness straddled the line between mockery and sincerity, this band was true metal. A Chorus of Obliteration showcased a trademark sound rarely heard these days—double guitar leads, shredding through brisk scales like twin Randy Rhoads on musical display. It’s a wonder that Ozzy Osbourne didn’t hire them away.
One of the first things to notice with the band’s follow-up, Temptation Come My Way, is the stellar production. Instead of two guitars cutting through a mix that showcases the talents of Josh Childers and Travis Bailey, it sounds like there are 500 guitars ripping your ears off with a tight rhythm section that performs as one—a true ensemble of muscle. “Fanatics and Whores” starts things off with a heavy Southern metal attack akin to Maylene & The Sons of Disaster (another quasi-revolutionary outfit of late), ranting and raving about false teachers. While the second track utilizes a high-end riff to introduce the song and is accompanied by the cowbell (Yes, the cowbell!), the overall sound of this album is more along the lines of tunes such as “From the Mouth of Gath Comes Terror” and “Dagon Undone” from A Chorus…
Instead of solos, it’s all about the rhythm and the heavy groove. They pull it off well, but it’s a tad disappointing to hear those identifying sounds relegated to the tenth track—“I, Victim.” Whether this is a case of identity crisis brought on by the band or dictated by the producer, the true growth of The Showdown’s abilities might be somewhat overshadowed by the elements no one would have guessed to be missing…or in the background of the mix.
DOUG VAN PELT
Review Provided by CCMmagazine.com
