Having only released one EP prior to this release, Germany's COMBUSTION are a pretty new prospect in the Death Metal arena. "Warhead" is their debut full-length record and from looking at the title, they're determined to make an explosive statement of intent. A brief fade-in to the opening track "Evolution Domination" takes us into a sound that is a decidedly modern take on the Death Metal genre. If you're looking for MORBID ANGEL worship, this is not going to be the record for you. The production here is so polished, it's blinding. Even as this song grooves and thrashes a reasonably satisfying path through nearly four brash minutes, one cannot help but find the lack of dirt under the band's fingernails to be a bit off-putting. That said, it's still a pretty good song that may well set some heads banging. The following track "Fed To The Wolves" shows us some slower riffing alongside the faster style, with a slight Meshuggah influence becoming apparent with some atmospheric lead playing later in the song. The drumming also takes the lead, as far as noteworthy originality goes, with subtle nuances being thrown in here and there that lend themselves well to this brooding track.

By the time "Bear All Bitterness" comes around, it becomes clear that this band has a rhythmic pattern that they stick to almost too closely. The vocal delivery, though decently powerful in its guttural low-end attack, lacks much imagination in regards to how it follows each riff step-by-step. Necro's drumming once again shows real prowess on "Where Heaven Ends" but aside from this one element of the song, there is little to write home about. The riffs on this song are pedestrian at best and definitely too linear and familiar to illicit an excited response.

The title track of the album, "Warhead" takes another turn towards Thrash inspired riffs, though it does throw some breakdown-like chugging moments that lurch forward, offering some breathing space between the bullish grooves that make up the rest of the song. "Retaliate" is like a heavier Five Finger Death Punch but without the melodic side to it, a real misfire on an album that feels like it's outstaying its welcome by this point.

The vocals throughout the record are something of a talking point. Powerful, as stated but they also lack adventurousness. There's no attempts to go anywhere beyond the typical Death Metal lows, and the way that each vocal line interplays with the music itself can't help but make one describe this overall effect as Groove/Death Metal. Think if LAMB OF GOD had been influenced by SUFFOCATION as well as PANTERA. Though decidedly less original than those two bands. Also, for a self-professed Death Metal band, there's something of a lack of frenetic ferocity to this record. You won't find the savagery and barbarism that has really come to define much of Death Metal as we know it.

This is a solid effort by a band that show some good potential in their abilities on their respective instruments and there have certainly been worse debut albums throughout Metal's history. However, it will be for the community at large to decide if COMBUSTION cut it as a Death Metal band or if this band is displaying a heavier response to the now tiring Groove Metal genre. When it comes to a follow-up, I hope that the band will have developed their songwriting abilities to help them find more of an original identity but for now, this may be decent enough to garner some fans.Production  7