xDEATHSTARx

We Are The Threat

[3.5/5] In 11 well-crafted and ridiculously aggressive tracks, We Are The Threat demonstrates why xDEATHSTARx’s music is among the most enjoyable that metalcore currently has to offer. With blistering drums, pounding guitars and three-yes, three-pissed-off (but nearly identical-sounding) vocalists, this Redlands, California, band recall a time when aggressive music was more likely to be about values or ideas than broken hearts. And while their pointed messages (straight edge; Christianity) might lack universal appeal, the substance of Threat should exclude xDEATHSTARx from any of the arguably valid complaints often lodged against this frequently flaccid genre (mainly lack of musical innovation). Produced by Eric Rachel (Hatebreed, Nora), the band’s wall-of-sound approach does occasionally make songs hard to distinguish from one another. Still, Threat is entertaining from start to finish and full of great mosh moments. (FACEDOWN) Ronen Kauffman