"The Difference Between Hell and Home" is the latest release by Canadian band COUNTERPARTS, who are by no means new to the metal scene. The Hardcore / Metal 5-piece formed in 2007, and have been going strong ever since. Their sound has a distinctly melodic quality, and their music showcases the supreme talent and determination the group possesses. The instruments complement each other perfectly, creating a brutal yet beautiful symphony.

What really stood out to me in this album was the guitar. Its melodic tunes are catchy, and a nice change from the more generic distortion a lot of Metal bands like to make use of. You'll lose yourself in a reminiscent haze in the opening track, "Lost". The music creates an atmosphere of nostalgia, and I found myself in a strangely reflective mood as soon as the song began. The band has a far more somber tone than many others within the genre, which is quite a pleasant difference that sets them apart. The drums make themselves heard in the second track "Ghost", with Kelly Bilan introducing the song with fierce cymbals. I also detected a funky breakdown or two. Me gusta.

There are several debris of heaviness in the next track, "Debris", whilst the music of "Outlier" is comparatively gentler. Some funky guitar riffs are present in "Witness", kudos to Jesse Doreen and Alex Re. "Decay" is even more solemn, with soft guitar and slows drumming that is surprisingly soothing. A spoken voice urges the listener to take notice, and becomes more and more demanding of attention as the song progresses. The alternate picking in "Compass" emphasizes the awesome memorability of the guitar even more, as does the heavy breakdown in "Wither". The bass by Eric Bazinet is super funky in "Cursed" and in the opening of "Slave", and the final and longest track features the best aspects of the previous songs, and serves as an effective summary of the band's message and sound.

The sound remains relatively consistent throughout the album, both in terms of music and vocals, yet there are several indications of diversity throughout. Brendan Murphy's screams make his voice memorable, and the occasional clean vocals illustrate his versatility. "The Difference Between Hell and Home" puts forth the heart-and-soul efforts of COUNTERPARTS, efforts which are definitely not in vain.