Germany's Blackened Grindcore powerhouse IMPLORE is back with a third full-length, "Alienated Despair." With 11 tracks of grinding brutality and relatively out-of-the-box songwriting, this record is very promising. Its Swedish Death Metal swagger and hardcore-injected vocal style brings out a most aggressive side from the band.

What stands out the most about this record are the riffs. At their surface, they seem like typical Grindcore riffs, but Eduard Petro adds his own touch to them. Whether its technicality or extra dissonant chords, the riffs on this album progress and build on each other so well that the unoriginality is almost completely stripped away.

"Parallax" was the first song on the album to truly catch my attention at multiple points. The songwriting is perfect, the groovy intro riff coming back halfway through to make the song go full circle. Not to mention the breakdown that is introduced by a sudden yet harsh grunt, creating a heavy and brutal atmosphere to finish the song with.

There is no section of the album that is lacking in some sort of spark of inspiration. Each song has an identity, and the album is strong throughout the entire runtime. Most notably, the last track is extremely strong. 'Despondency" has some of the better riffs on the album. In fact, they are some of the only riffs that are on the higher strings. The groove is fantastic with an impeccable flow. Finishing with a heavy set of riffs with nice differentiation, the album concludes with strength.

Songwriting is where this band excels. Each track goes at its own pace with no filler. When a riff has played its course, the band moves on. "All Is Lost Is Long Forgotten" and "The Venom Comes in Droves" are both perfect examples of interesting progression through various riffs.

Implore have written an album that will put a grin on one's face, even for those who dislike Grindcore. The way the guitars, drums and vocals complement each other is astounding, and their chemistry is undeniably efficient. The production is raw, with screeching guitars and cavernous vocals. This is a high point for Grindcore.