The Canadian Metal scene is quite varied, containing some of the biggest names in Progressive Rock - like RUSH. But there are a lot of name in Extreme Metal like ANVIL, EXCITER and KATAKLYSM which are also good examples that Canada doesn't just have Progressive fans and musicians. WARSENAL, formed just three years ago, are debuting their first album called "Barn Burner" via Punishment 18 Records.

It's clear that their greatest influence is MEGADETH and you can hear this clearly when Mathieu Rondeau starts to so sing. Unfortunately the production is rotten and prejudices the sound quality. The majority of the songs are less than 3 minutes and before you notice it, the album is over. But let's talk about the tracks.

The first "Dying on Stage" is a typical Speed/Trash Metal song with generic lyrics, presented at a faster than hell pace. The drums by Antoine Turcotte sound like they're being played on a kiddy drum set. The track had a lot of MEGADETH's "Holy Wars..." influences in the song, albeit with a dirty and poor instrumental take on it. The second song "Let Me Out" shows us the band is unripe in their songs and has a lot of things to learn in Metal scene. The third is "Hit' n' Run", which sounds like a demo from METALLICA singing with a teenager who loves Dave Mustaine. "Conquer" is like a "Hit' n' Run" continuation with a speed solo. And "Stab You One By One" starts off with an impressionistic riff and cadence, but the production makes the song dirty. "Unstoppable" starts with the same feeling as the earlier songs, with a chorus shouted by what sounds like all the band members combined. Thanks to God, "Wars" is one of the last songs, and is the perfect example of how not to make and Trash/Speed Metal songs.

The two last songs have the all-the-same-song feel to them like the others: speed riffs, hash vocals that remind me of the "Kill 'Em All" style, and all in all give the listener nothing special.

Unfortunately, WARSENAL has much to learn if they want to become a permanent fixture in the Metal scene. It's a generic album, with a bad quality production.