THE KENNEDY VEIL have returned to unleash their sophomore album "Trinity of Falsehood" upon the masses, and it's certainly a doozy. This "New Wave of Modern Brutal Death Metal" act is actually quite good. I don't normally go in for this sort of thing because more often than not the vocals turn me off, but there's something about Taylor Wientjes that not only Didn't annoy me, but only added to the richness of these songs. Much like DEICIDE a few months back; never liked their style of music, but I was really into their latest, "In the Minds of Evil". I can't explain what it is that draws me to some bands that most of you would swear I'd hate, but anyway, here we are. Plus, the album artwork is truly amazing, so that drew me in as well.

The band's mission statement is proudly: "No throwbacks, no breakdowns, no wanking, and no trends. Modern American Brutal Death Metal!" They've got balls, I'll say that much. The thing is, they back it up, so that earns them some respect points right there from yours truly. Songs like the opener "Ad Noctum", "Trinity of Falsehood", and first single "Enslave. Defile. Erase." really showcase the tightness of the band, while also sounding as different as night and day in several places. Drummer Gabe Seeber is an absolute maniac behind the kit, and you don't even have to see his arms going 100mph to get dizzy, hearing the beat will take care of that for you.

The thing that also separates THE KENNEDY VEIL from the pack is the fact that there are definite hooks in among the relentless displays of technical prowess, especially on "King of Slaves", which along with the title track was one of my favorites. This is also true of "Seventh Circle" and "Beneath the Shroud of Atonement", a busy little number that should resonate well with true fans of the genre. Another thing I thought was smart is the length of the songs. They are all roughly three minutes give or take and come at you like short bursts of machine gun fire. This accomplishes two things: it avoids being monotonous, and it leaves you wanting more, so what do you do? You hit the repeat button and you start the disc over again, DUH!

As I stated earlier this usually isn't my cup of tea. But THE KENNEDY VEIL have the talent and the songwriting ability that not only kept me interested, but also made a believer out of me. And I am very curious to see what the future holds for this group of guys from Sacramento, CA. If it's Modern Death Metal you're looking for, then with "Trinity of Falsehood" you've come to the right place.