The evolution that took its toll on Metal isn't a new feature at all. It was this abstract force that made Metal evolve from the 70's to the 80's, from the 80's to the 90's, and so on. It's not a sin to say that TRIVIUM, SLIPKNOT, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and other were true inheritors of the past, without a shadow of doubt. Of course that the fans can like them or not, it's their right, but they can't deny such thing. And to show as modernity really can make things even tasteful the Italian quartet SECRET RULE comes for another round with "Against", their latest release (and it's their fifth album as well).

Their music can be described as a fusion of a modern form of traditional Heavy Metal with some modern elements, with charming and accessible melodies, powerful rhythms and hooking choruses. Barely comparing, imagine a fusion of the best elements of EVANESCENCE, NIGHTWISH, TRIVIUM, old elements from THE GATHERING with Hard Rock/Heavy elements, and the listener can have an idea of what is expecting on this album. And the band shows an amazing flow of energy on each song. The sound quality of the album is surely excellent: all musical instruments present very good sets of instrumental tunes, trying to be modern and aggressive, but in a way that the listeners will understand easily (evading the greasy and low tunes that could be a wrong choice for their work). And the album sounds clean and heavy, in a way that aggressiveness and melodies can be expressed and assimilated easily.

"Against" isn't a hard album to be heard and assimilated. The hooks are so many that every song has something that the fans will like. The seductive chorus and modern energy of "Shades of Humanity" (along with its very good keyboards parts and some male nasty voices to create good contrasts), the accessible hooks presented on the chorus of "Rise Again" and "Going Nowhere" (where the introspective and somber ambiance turns things even more interesting, and the guitars are really great), the commercial modern outfit of "Digital Revolution" (what lovely vocals can be heard on this one), and the abrasive modern weight contrasting with good melodies on "Against" and "Deep Solitude" are the best moments.

The musical work of SECRET RULE is really mature, so hear "Against" and take a ride of joyful moments that it brings to the listeners.