Band:	Thy Art Is Murder
Album:	Human Target
Style:	Technical deathcore
Release date:	July 2019

01. Human Target
02. New Gods
03. Death Squad Anthem
04. Make America Hate Again
05. Eternal Suffering
06. Welcome Oblivion
07. Atonement
08. Voyeurs Into Death
09. Eye For An Eye
10. Chemical Christ

Never a band to shy away from speaking their minds, Human Target sees Thy Art Is Murder rage against perceived injustices like never before; sounding like brutal catharsis for the band, you get caught in the crossfire. Thy Art's deathcore roots are still the basis from which they launch off their invective sonic attacks, but with them now showing a level of maturity that has been refined with each subsequent record. This album sounds like a culmination of years of work and dedication that found renewed purpose with all that is going on in the world.

From the off, the band take no prisoners as they rail against the current political climate, environmental issues and social division among other charged issues of the day. The music matches the intensity of the lyrics, producing a powerful combination that will catch your attention and hold it steady until the album's last notes fade out. McMahon's bark is as deadly as the band's bite, with a strong production that adds to the brutal nature of the music, while also providing space to allow softer passages to add a bit of light to an otherwise dark album.

Highlights here must be the title track and "Make America Hate Again", two tracks which are hard hitting both musically and lyrically. The band do not mince their words as they make it clear where they stand and provide a soundtrack that will have you hooked. They serve as the tracks where all the elements in this album coalesce perfectly.

If variety is your thing, you won't find it here. While that is often a criticism given to albums, in cases like these where the album is just unleashing such brutality and pent up anger, variety would be an unwelcome distraction. The band don't write the same song twice and switches things up if you listen closely; it takes the Motörhead route of sounding different yet similar at the same time.

As with most deathcore albums this album does fall victim to the common problems; the music often melds together as one hard hitting piece of metal, in which it is hard to separate and really enjoy each instrument. Few moments truly stand out as examples of great musicianship, though that is not to say they're incompetent; they are masters at what they do. The album does also occasionally fall back into old habits; the breakdown in "Atonement" is an example of parts that were put in as a form of fan service rather than fitting the flow of the song. It is well played but seemingly forced in, as it's their go-to weapon of choice.

A strong piece of brutality that won't fail to grab your attention, Thy Art have created an album that should serve as a calling card for a band looking to reach the next level.