One of the most famous, female-fronted, Thrash Metal bands, DÉTENTE, reunited earlier this year, and the possibility for a third album is in the midst. Meanwhile, if you are someone who is diligently waiting that release, I recommend you take a look at the latest offering from SOUL GRINDER, "The Prophecy of Blight".

The most obvious aspect of this band's material is that, unlike a lot of extreme Metal, it is mostly vocally driven. In other words, what is standing out as the prominent role is the vocals, whereas it is usually the guitar. This is made very clear right off the bat on "Hunting the Prophecy", a track where April Dimmick's blood-curdling vocals soar with both melody and ferocity. The vocal melodies are strong and to-the-bone.

"Apotheosis" is another track that best showcases Dimmick's vocals, and it also shows her versatility. The track has a sludge-y feel, and the vocals add to that atmosphere, coating on a smooth layer of eeriness to the already chilling riffs. While the majority of the album is vocally driven, there are moments where that is not the case, and this track is one of them.

"Beasts of Chaos" is another example of instrumentally driving music, giving the audience tasty leads and groovy riffing. The chemistry between the guitar and the vocals is on point as the verses begin to roll along at a groovy, Thrash rhythm. "The Rift" is another track that shows prominence in the guitars, especially near the end with its strong outro.

Outside of a few tracks that showcase the instrumental side of the band quite effectively, the rest of the tracks tend to use uninspired riffs. If it weren't for the excellent vocals, this album would suffer for being dull.

Outside of the music, the album is structured nicely. It starts with a great sample of the vocal abilities of Dimmick, and the riffs get better near the end of the album. The closing track is strong enough to provide a sense of positivity towards the album as a whole. While the music tends to be lacking in instrumental substance, the final product is still well-executed Thrash Metal with some awesome vocals. If you are a fan of DÉTENTE, this is right up your alley.