LOATHE's "Despondent By Design" is one of those albums that for some reason I do not know was late for its appointment since it's been a few months since it was released. Hailing from Malta, the country that gave birth to beloved bands like ABYSMAL TORMENT and BEHEADED, the quintet attacks with its brand new, first ever full-length album!

After three EP releases (2003, 2005, 2007), the modern extreme metallers from Malta seemed ready to show their true potential with a full-length release. This release would be "Despondent By Design", which was released last July through the UK based label Casket Music. What you get with this album is an approximate running time of 41 minutes full of modern Thrash/Death Metal with some Metalcore touches full of nice groove and catchy riffs, as well as a vocalist who acts like a shapeshifter with hellish screams and brutal growls. What's bad about this release is the weak production, which unfortunately "buries" some good ideas and gives a false mediocre opinion. That's what happened to me at least, before I listen to the album several more times and pay attention to the songs.

With a little more work and the appropriate sound, this band could surely perform miracles! Ok, it is not the best thing that has happened to the Metal scene, but it surely is better than a lot of "modern" bands without talent that get promoted for no apparent reason.