Hailing from Cardiff, the largest city in Wales, comes VIRTUE IN VAIN with their new EP "For All You Know Is The Mask I Wore". They joined the rise of British metal, after some years of standing still alongside some of the greatest British acts, with bands lik JUDAS PRIEST and IRON MAIDEN. VIRTUE IN VAIN are one of the bands that will probably be in the front line of the assault.

"For All You Know Is The Mask I Wore" is a seven tracks EP , "For All You Know Is The Mask I Wore" can be defined in the  Progressive Metalcore/hardcore scene , however VIRTUE IN VAIN start the Ep with a small instrumental "Prologue" that can only delay the assault that is coming. The 'second' (first) track "Martyrs" shows from the start the style of VIRTUE IN VAIN, very loud and bassy guitar riff with some frantic drumming by Luke Sullivan on top of Hywel Thomas' excellent voice and it integrates very well with the rest of the music. Track three "In Faith In Ruin" by far is the best in the album with amazing drumming and vocals all around, the slightly Doomy style by VIRTUE IN VAIN in "In Faith In Ruin" is a very nice addition to the fast paced guitar, drumming and vocals all around.

Don't miss "Left Behind", which incorporates some atmospheric vocals in the chorus, this addition to the assault is softening the tracks and makes it a remarkable track.

If all first three tracks are a hard attack that goes well into the Hardcore realm, "My Heart Is Bruised But Never Broken" is a wolf in sheep's clothing, starting with classic Metalcore that goes deeper and deeper into the Hardcore, a great example of what can be achieved mixing the two.

"For All You Know Is The Mask I Wore" is not perfect but for me it was near to perfect, bear in mind that I'm not a big fan Hardcore nor Metalcore and I said what I said.