Since the coming of those bands that we label as NWOTHM (New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal), many good names arose from the depths of the underground worldwide, names as SKULL FIST, ENFORCER and some others. And besides, Big Daddy here does an immense face palm every time this label appears (because it makes no sense at all, if you can see that traditional Heavy Metal, as they play, are merely what we hear in the 80s, so to be called "new" is a fallacy), it's necessary to recognize many good bands on the style, besides there are some ones that must stay in the garage (and forever, if it's possible).

In the NWOTHM (face palm 1 done) style, we see that the North American quartet CROSSING RUBICON is a very good name, and a promise for the future, as their first album, "No Less Than Everything", shows.

It's a pure and melodic way into traditional Heavy Metal in the English way of the NWOBHM, having only few elements from the American Metal of the eighties, just some Hard Rock orientated moments. The only thing that links the band to the NWOTHM (face palm 2 done) is the fact that the embodiment of their musical work is linked to the style done in 80s, but with a modern outfit. But I said above: it's really very good; besides, we've all heard this same style time and time again in the past.

Their sound quality is really fine. Their instrumental tunes were wisely chosen, and the recording, mixing, and mastering were done in a way that their music sounds aggressive and heavy, but clean in the same way, so we can understand clearly what they want to do. It's a feature that bands from the NWOTHM (face palm 3 done): to record in a way that sounds modern and fresh, but with a form of music linked to the past.

Their songs are powerhouses; all of them very good, indeed. But we can see their finest moments on the energetic and melodic "Tomorrow Never Comes" with its very good work on vocals and aggressive riffs, the tender melodies of the guitars on "Never Again" and on the atmospheric "The Fallen" (some musical influences from BLUE OYSTER CULT can be hear here in some moments), the heavy weight duo of "Cut Deep" (where bass guitar and drums are doing a very good work, along with melodic backing vocals) and "Who's Gonna Save You" (again, another show from the rhythmic kitchen, along some nasty vocals contrasting with the clean ones), the raw energy from "Violet Carson" with its fine vocals and riffs, and the hooking and melodically intense, "Return to Atlantis".

A very good promise, indeed, and may become one of the greatest names on the NWOTHM (Face palm 4 done, and my nose is bleeding due the impact).<