Heavy, fast, hardcore; Belgium's DECONSECRATE's latest album, "Nothing is Sacred" fits all these categories in spades.

The entire album is a feast of dark imagery; from the harsh, screamed vocals to the buzzsaw guitar riffs and blast beat drumming. All of the eight tracks are very fast and have a very similar feel, with lots of extreme and thrash influences incredibly obvious, as well as the heavy use of diminished tonalities which creates a universally dark and ominous sound. "Where Angels Fear to Tread" offers a slightly more groove-based sound to the straight-up blackened death nature of the group.

The band's speed and aggression has been honed to an impressive level. The songs are all incredibly tight and really stay together structurally in a way that escapes many more extreme bands. The album's final track, "Planetary Holocaust" offers up a slightly different sound, with the addition of MORNING AGAIN's Damien Moyal on guest vocals. His much more shouted style, paired with the guttural harshness of regular vocalist xAntiX creates a definite back and forth partnership that shows off the different influences of the group. Other songs on "Nothing is Sacred" feature guest vocals from DYING FOETUS' John Gallagher.

Of the six members of DECONSECRATE, five of them are former members of other groups from the extreme metal scene, which gives this group a lot of pedigree, and a strong base from which to work.

Overall, "Nothing is Sacred" is a strong album, offering a whole lot of speed, aggression and satanic darkness. However where it falls down is the repetitive nature of the songs and lack of variety which makes it sound formulaic and samey. But for an occasional listen in order to blast out some cobwebs and to exorcise some deep seated aggression then DECONSECRATE have come upon a winning sound.