What happens when two members of one of the biggest metal bands in the world decide that they are going to leave the group on the same day? They create a new group in which they have more opportunity to stretch their musical muscles and really shine of course.

As a concept born out of drummer Shawn Drover and guitarist extraordinaire Chris Broderick's decisions to leave MEGADETH, ACT OF DEFIANCE are a heavy thrash group with a pedigree that it's hard to argue with. The line-up is completed by former SCAR THE MARTYR frontman Henry Derek and SHADOWS FALL's Matt Bachand on bass duties.

The entire album is at full throttle, really going for what modern thrash is all about- fast paced and heavy. Opening with the track "Throwback", "Birth and the Burial" kicks off in fine force, with a killer riff showing off everything about the individual member's skills that makes them masters of their field.

Broderick's shredding is a real bonus for me on this album, and the solos in both "Disastrophe" and "Dead Stare" allow him to let loose in a way that hasn't been seen in a band context for a few years. The only issue is that it isn't enough; even here, sometimes it sounds like Broderick may be holding back in order to suit the group (solo album?).

Vocally, the mixture of singing and growling can get confusing and does tend to jump around between styles, almost at random, making many of the tracks lose a sense of overall focus and continuity; moving between thrash-influenced singing and more of an early death metal kind of approach.

While the music of the group is amazing, and the guitar solos really rip, the album doesn't quite live up to all the potential of the talent in the band. Having said that, a round of touring for "Birth and the Burial" and ACT OF DEFIANCE album number two could be exactly what is needed.<