Anyone that grew up during the Nu-Metal years will remember a lot of weird bands. When masks and boiler suits became de rigueur, there was a whole host of musicians playing the unhinged card in an effort to gain attention, usually with a suitably chaotic album to back them up. Now that biceps and flesh tunnels are the done thing it's less popular, but META-STASIS aren't going to let that stop them plunging back into the darkness and exploring the freak show all over again.

They've already gained a few high profile supporters (Kerry King is a fan) and their second album 'Metanoia' should continue the trend. It's a furious ten tracks of schizophrenic metal, with turntables and twisted jungle beats jostling for space alongside guttural roars and scything guitars. At times it sounds like SLIPKNOT with Sid Wilson's parts turned up, at others like a head on collision between CANNIBAL CORPSE and THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN and it is impossible to digest everything in one go.

This is a dense and multi-layered album with a lot going on. The opening "Welcome To Our Asylum" sends you hurtling into a world of pain and from there it never lets up. The songs are all long, sprawling rants of evil and not a single one could be edited into a radio-friendly unit shifter. There's no "Wait And Bleed", just bleak and unremitting violence from start to finish.

That said, there's a lot of clever musicianship going on that isn't apparent at first. The drumming is especially good, veering from one off-kilter time signature to another and the samples are interwoven perfectly, playing a much bigger part here than they did in the 'token DJ' days. It doesn't make it any less unforgiving, but it adds an extra edge to the likes of "Fathomless" and "United Monarchy". Not a pleasant album then but definitely one that rewards repeat plays. It's well worth sticking with it as one of the best cuts - "Meth" - is saved until track eight and is easily overlooked. This is going to struggle to connect with anyone that isn't really committed to unusual bands or misses being called a freak while trawling the CD racks at Virgin Megastores, but it's clear evidence that not all of the patients made it back to the ward.