Jesper Strömblad once called Sweden's DEGRADEAD the "future of Metal," although listening to this album you have to wonder how much of that was down to fatherly affection. Given that they sound like a tribute act for "Reroute To Remain" era IN FLAMES, it shouldn't be especially surprising that he held these five lads in high esteem. There are duelling guitars, sweet Gothenburg melodies and soaring vocals married to crushing Death Metal and a distinctly European flavour, all of which have been shamelessly pinched from a significantly bigger band. It's not especially original but let's face it, IN FLAMES haven't released a good album in years whereas DEGRADEAD have made a great one.

Sure, when you first put it on and "Afterlife" blasts out the speakers it's easy to think you've selected the last SOILWORK record by mistake, but let it play because it's a good song. It's got a chorus as shiny as Patrick Stewart's head and while it's bound to enrage the legions of Internet Metal elitists, it's very easy enjoy. The same can be said for "Victimise," "Grand Eternity" and just about every track on here. You'll be poised and ready for something to hate, but decent song follows decent song and before it gets halfway in you'll realize the tribute act have made a better album than the genuine article.

For all the hooks and anthems though DEGRADEAD are still very much a Metal band and they aren't afraid to get nasty when they need to. There's a few moments where singer Mikael Sehlin channels Randy Blythe and sounds like a grizzled Virginian wood chopper, especially in "Morphosis" and the closing "Killing Game," both of which could have "wall of death" written next to them on the set list. "The Blinding Crusade" meanwhile is a furious burst of aggression one moment and an uplifting epic the next, Sehlin effortlessly switching between vocal styles and showing off a set of pipes that Anders Fridén would kill for.

Granted, there are a few occasions where DEGRADEAD go a bit too commercially minded but while this is as mainstream as Death Metal can get, it's the musical equivalent of fast food; easy to consume and you'll do so far more than you care to admit. Plus there isn't a single ballad to be found and while this isn't the best album you'll hear in 2016, as a collection of Pop Metal songs it's loads of quick-fix fun. And "New Dawn" is ace - even your baby sister will like it.