Coming from the USA and steadily on the rise we got modern alternative metal titans GEMINI SYNDROME with their brand new album "3^rd Degree - The Raising" which was released in October 2021. The band formed in 2010 and have had massive hit albums like "Lux" and "Memento Mori" with Billboard number ones and big touring schedules. They have been compared to in the past to bands like MUDVAYNE, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH and TOOL. This album also marks their first release with new guitarist MIGUEL 'MEEGS' ROSCÓN, formerly from Nu-Metal masters COAL CHAMBER.

"Reintegration" is the first song up and opens with these atmospheric and metallic sounds. A big riff hits and the track then kicks off. The song gets a bit gloomy as the vocals hit. Some cool energy can be felt here as we then get hit with a big chorus. The song really keeps you on your feet. A really cool middle section can be found here as the breakdown comes in and hits you like a ton of bricks. This is an excellent opening song and I wonder just how much better the rest of the album can get after this.

Next up is "IDK" with it's big heavy groove filled riff opening the track. The vocals here are on top form as we then get to a big sing along chorus. The drums here do good with keeping a solid pace through out. This song is just so good as this middle section rises up with an epic feel to it and full of emotion. It starts to build to this breakdown that is so fucking heavy, another chorus comes in that feels different and almost uplifting to play us out. After that we got "Die With Me" and here we get this chant to help accompany the killer riffing. A very slight funkish feel to the verses and choruses with heavy sounding guitars. The song has an almost fun feel to it with a cool middle section and a guitar solo that sounds very out there and metallic. I really enjoyed this one.

A great song that appears here is "Abandoned" with a very industrial intro. The song then halts to a bit of a stop for the verse. The riffs stomp right back in and make for this a real head banging tune. The lyrics reflect how the horrors of life corrupt your innocence and view of the world. The chorus in this one really packs a punch too. The bass takes lead for the middle section as this song plays out like and anthem of sorts. The drums are going absolutely nuts here as the song comes to a close. After that we got "Broken Reflection" and you can feel the energy right from the start as that riff hits. This one is filled with big sing along choruses that is uplifting. There is a great groove to that riff and the verses really pack a punch. The vocals here have great execution and the middle section really brings it home as the choruses come back. This album just keeps getting better and better.

"Sun Quod Eris" is a song that acts as a bass solo of sorts with atmospheric synths sounds thrown into the mix. This is a little like a dark and gloomy "(Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth" by METALLICA. It is a nice way to take a  break from this experience of listening to this album. "Best Of Me" from the start uses those vocals and keys to show us something different. This track acts as a dark ballad type as you can faintly hear electric and acoustic guitars added together. This one is very different to the rest of the album and is a very emotional song. The middle section hits and you can very subtly hear this lead guitar line trying to break though. The strings with acoustic guitar and vocals adds this almost beauty element to the song as there is so much melody through out.

With the track "Absolution" all that can be said is that you got to listen for yourself as this song is just unreal. From listening to "3^rd Degree - The Raising" this album is a total experience and a journey. The vocals have a great range with of emotion to back them up. The riffs here are so heavy and groovy and the songs even got a lot of melody too. This is filled with pit starting sections with plenty of big sing along choruses that sound a little like SHINEDOWN. I can hear elements of KORN, MUDVAYN and A PERFECT CIRCLE in this bands works. If this is the new direction for alternative and Nu-Metal then it is safe to say that with GEMINI SYNDROME we are in safe hands.