Pop deathcore bands seem to all accept a big moment in a large song. Suicide Silence blasted onto my radar—and that of the metalheads around me—with the massive "No Pity for a Coward" breakdown and its brutal, memorable refrain. Whitechapel had a few, but most notable for me was the "this earth is ours" breakdown in "This is Exile." Job for a Cowboy had that scream in "Entombment of a Automobile." Acrania had the "ship them to the slaughterhouse" scrap in "Disillusion in a Discordant System." Waking the Cadaver had Shredded Wheat. The list tin proceed, just it needn't. Australian deathcore stalwarts Thy Art Is Murder have joined the Big Deathcore Moment Club as of 2012, with the "I am the purest strain of detest" smackdown on "The Purest Strain of Hate." It seems they've joined the big leagues—and, to top it all off, they've fifty-fifty been reviewed here on Aroused Metal Guy. These dudes are truly a big deal in deathcore, so the release of Human Target is surely exciting for at least some of our readership.

Provided I can be counted among the readership besides, I was excited for Human Target. Thy Art Is Murder knows how to write some good tunes, and while Dear Pathos didn't do a lot for me every bit a whole, it had its moments. This time effectually, Thy Art Is Murder have decided to ramp upwardly the Lamb of God influences in their audio considerably, and lean a flake more on Polandcore (Hate, pre-terrible Behemoth). Combining this with their hefty deathcore fides, which pleasantly remind me of Oceano's Depths and Suicide Silence's The Cleansing, nosotros have something that sounds more like the amorphous concept of "modern metallic" with breakdowns instead of whatever "pure deathcore" might represent. There aren't all that many large, "No Pity for a Coward" type breakdowns—instead, we get hardcore-tinged staccato chromatic chugs, and many of the breakdowns that practice announced tend to eternalize whatsoever i guitar plays over meridian.

A band doesn't oftentimes get as large every bit Thy Art Is Murder without some proof of quality in the pudding, and there are practiced songs to be had hither. The title track startsHuman Target strong with burly, thuggish riffing, some throwback breakdowns, and an aggressive vocal performance from CJ McMahon. It'southward catchy, and McMahon's phrasing is smart and memorable, showing why he's one of the about lauded vocalists in modern deathcore. "Death Squad Anthem" has big, elementary riffs and another catchy refrain, again showcasing McMahon's knack for rhythm and phrasing. It's got a lot of free energy, doesn't let upwards from the pummeling riffs, and is a good example of what the genre does right. "Eye for an Eye" stumbles a fleck out of the gate with its banal Polandcore riffing but finds its feet when it builds up to a proficient breakdown in its centre and an emotive harmony at its decision. Information technology is well placed every bit the penultimate track likewise; smart sequencing is always appreciated.

Nonetheless, Human Target does falter in places. "Make America Hate Once more" sounds like a Sacrament/Wrath-era Lamb of God outtake with more breakdowns sprinkled in, or possibly a Japanese bonus track on either record. Information technology's not bad, but it's non terribly exciting. "Eternal Suffering" chugs a lot but lacks management, meandering with beefy riffs before unceremoniously fading out. "Atonement" has a nondescript character about information technology, defective a compelling hook or riff to elevate it beyond deathcore-themed wallpaper. "Welcome Oblivion" is frustrating, as it has some interesting arrangements and McMahon does a practiced job crafting another screamed claw, merely information technology practically reveals its entire hand nigh thirty seconds into the song, dampening its replay value by resting on its own laurels for its elapsing.

Human Target volition likely keep Thy Art Is Murder where they are, maybe acquiring a few fans who have gotten into extreme metal through the Lamb of God gateway by emphasizing those elements of their sound more than on Dear Desolation. This is an easy tape to like, but a tough one to love or wholeheartedly recommend. In today's music temper, Man Target will be an anthology where deathcore fans will put the highlights on an ever-growing deathcore playlist and listen that way. The upside to an album similar this is that it'due south like shooting fish in a barrel to listen to, as it demands precious little of the listener. I tin throw on Human Target and be entertained for its duration—and that, like this record, is okay.

Rating: 2.5/v.0
DR: 4 | Format Reviewed: 269 kbps mp3
Label: Nuclear Smash Records
Websites: thyartismurder.net | facebook.com/thyartismurder
Releases Worldwide: July 26th, 2019