Every so often, I go on Bandcamp to listen to new releases in my favorite Metal genres, which are basically Black, Thrash and Death and their various subgenres. I listen to whatever looks interesting, and I usually leave with one or two stand-out full-lengths or EPs. However, I feel like I would have steered clear of the latest album from LIKE RATS.

Being from Illinois, I love to support bands from the state. And while Like Rats have some pretty awesome chops, there is nothing setting them apart from other bands that play this sound better. That does not mean their sound was fundamentally bad; it just means it didn't catch my ear at first.

Right off the bat, "Death Monolith," the latest effort from the band, went beyond their roots and created a Death Metal sound not too distant from their Hardcore-driven past, but far enough to be different. This alone was remarkable and even impressive, but also right off the bat was a sound that is not better than other contemporary Death Metal acts.

I would have passed this up immediately because the first track was predominantly lackluster until the end where the band effectively used layers in their mix. However, everything changed with "Foul Wind," a track that needed to be much longer than it was. Doomy and pummeling, the track wound through different riffs and sections. It carried the weight of the sea and dropped it right on the listener's head repeatedly. Unfortunately, its ending was abrupt.

The title track did justice in song length, having offered seven minutes of crushing doom riffs and fast riffing. The track effectively put into motion the second half of the record with its rolling riffs and crashing rhythms all tied together with the doom-infused breakdown finale.

With various moments of greatness tucked away here and there, this album still could have used some more work, especially with the riffs that were jumpier and "technical." While this band was certainly no Necrophagist, there were some riffs that liked to experiment here and there, and it usually didn't work.

There were some notable moments hidden within this release, making this band one that reviewers like myself would call one that "has potential." As typical as that statement may be, it was true. This band did have potential, and the fact that this was their first Death Metal-focused record (their earlier material, to me, seems more Hardcore-driven) made that even more noticeable.

While "Death Monolith" was not well-developed in terms of writing or concept, there was one lesson to be taken away: first impressions are not always accurate. This is an insultingly obvious observation, but as someone who cares so much about first impressions while surfing Bandcamp, it is definitely something to keep in mind.