Since 1993, SOUL DEMISE has been crushing the metal scene with their own take on Germany's Death Metal. The quintet is back with their sixth full-length release "Thin Red Line" that was released earlier in 2017. The album comes in with eleven tracks and a listening time of almost 38 minutes.

The opening track "Plagued By Fear" comes roaring in, in your usual Death Metal madness way. The vocals are gritty and have a nice range, from super low guttural to a higher-pitched scream. The guitars are lower, but create a power, that when mixed with the drums, is bursting with goodness and raw talent. The drums aren't overpowering but have that hard hitting, rhythm changing grandiose-ness that Death Metal is known for. The bass is low and all business in this track. From this moment on, I expected great things from this album.

"Desperate Cry", track two, leads in quietly becoming more and more in your face, like a storm in the distance. You can hear it coming. This technique used to be overdone, but now there's an interesting twist to a track when I hear it used. Still though, it came in with a bombing drum and bass line and a more muted guitar. A melody that we could experience in a Melodic Death Metal piece.
Track three "Deceive The Masses" starts off much slower with an acoustic guitar that at about 20 seconds becomes this hard hitting track. The vocals are screamed then changed to a spoken piece that moves back into a screamed piece. The drums are full on blast beat and navigate rhythm changes perfectly. The guitars are higher toned, and the bass is super low and hauntingly played. This track is full of goodness that many Metal-heads would find appealing.

Track five, and my favorite on the album "Live On the Edge" has an intense intro that slams you into complete blast beat drum carnage. There are some feelings of Metalcore in this track, however, it stays true to the Death Metal genre with a little more oomph mixed in there. Enter 2:35, and I am memorized. This little mid piece was finished with an incredible guitar solo.

"The Glow Of The Rich Man's Friend", track eight, is everything bass. Welcome to the track that completely shows off the bass in a way we really hadn't heard before now within the album. With such deep bass, and drums that scream power, the guitars could take a little time off, but why? They too, are so intertwined in this track that a little acoustic number at about two minutes in, made me double take, and enhanced the over all sound. The vocals are phenomenal and have grown on me tremendously throughout this listening session.

The final track, "Hopeless Case" brings back in that perfected melody from the beginning tracks. There is a rhythm in this track that just makes for a great head-banging piece. The rhythm changes are met with masterfulness. This is something of the old and something of the new.

SOUL DEMISE's "Thin Red Line" is a definite addition to most any metal collection. There are so many genre line crossing tendencies in this album that there is something to like for all. SOUL DEMISE is new and refreshing, but keeps it old school in "Thin Red Line".