A curse of modern society is the constant bombardment of white noise. We are fed constant bullshit about things which at the end of the day; do not make one iota of difference to the big picture and this, allows us to become easily distracted. The same can be said for the use of language. Why use five words to describe something when just one could give the perfect description. LORD DYING's second album "Poison Altars" drops at the end of the month, and it is huge. No distractions; "Poison Altars" is a beast.

Following up the 2013 debut "Summon the Faithless" was never going to be an easy task for LORD DYING, but they have changed their own rules of engagement and set up a whole new game. The albums namesake "Poisoned Altars" draws a metal line in the sludge and from its opening chords sets a mighty powerful backdrop for the rest of the album. The groove that "Poisoned Altars" lays out is monumental, this isn't just a head shaker, it's a body mover. The chorus is slow and resonates heavily while the double time verse up's the anti; but the magic starts in the break down, and this is where LORD DYING really nail you to the wall. Singer Eric Olson starts "The Clearing at the End of the Path" spitting venom; its riff is so massive it could engulf the sun. On "The Clearing at the end of the Path" we get to hear for the first time the exceptional LORD DYING instrumental behemoth, where the swirling riffs just keep coming. The first single off of "Poisoned Altars" is "A Wound Outside of Time" it's a haunting riff that soon transcends into a thunderous monster of epic proportions that comes complete with pinch harmonics!!! It's catchy, it's dark and by god it's good. The half-way point of "Poisoned Altars" is ushered in by "An Open Wound", a personal favorite, which continues to push the boundaries of what LORD DYING can deliver.

"An Open Wound" has the intensity of CROWBAR with harmonies fitting of HIGH ON FIRE, but at moments, there are even glimpses of Tom Araya vocals. "Offering Pain (and An Open Minded Center)" and "Suckling at the Teat of a She-Beast" add yet more amplitude to "Poisoned Altars" giving an almost hard core feel to the album. The riffs are still there in abundance but the delivery grows more compelling as every note rings out. The grand finale for "Poisoned Altars" comes in the form of the spectacular "Darkness Remains"; this is the moment the whole album has been building towards. Dual guitars, stomping vocals, a kinship of Sludge and Metal, soon we reach the culmination of the previous 40 minutes.

LORD DYING are the masters of the instrumental, and the last four minutes of "Darkness Remains" is metal at its best, at times it's like I'm listening to "Ride the Lightening" again for the first time. LORD DYING's "Poisoned Altars" is huge in every way; enormous song writing, immense production, towering structure, and pinpoint precision in its delivery. That difficult, career defining second album? No Drama for LORD DYING, "Poison Altars" is the future.