Band:	Judiciary
Album:	Flesh + Blood
Style:	Hardcore, Crossover thrash metal
Release date:	March 10, 2023
A review by:	F3ynman

01. Flesh
02. Blood
03. Engulfed
04. Paradigm Piercer
05. Knife In The Dirt
06. Stare Into The Sun
07. Cobalt
08. Steel Hand God
09. Obsidian
10. Eschatos Hemera

A crushingly addictive metal album that fires on all cylinders and still adds enough variety to spice up a fine-tuned formula — what isn't there to like?

On New Year's Eve, I penned my first review of an album in the "hardcore" subgenre: Lionheart's latest studio album. Fellow American five-piece band Judiciary have released an album that, on paper, seems to fall into the same category. However, already a few seconds into the first track, it becomes clear that we have here an entirely different hardcore beast. Sure, both bands share clear, characteristic hardcore traits such as shouting lead vocals, monstrous breakdowns, and a general groovy mood that makes any listener feel like a total badass. Yet, despite some lyrics about the hardships of growing up amidst American street violence, most of Lionheart's album revelled in catchy, almost rap-like music with tongue-in-cheek singing and addictive swagger. Judiciary, like stone-faced Justice, choose a far more serious route. No space for clever rhyming or funny song titles — Flesh + Blood is all about unforgiving aggression.

Now, it's true that, for the untrained ear, Flesh + Blood might still at first seem like a standard, run-of-the-mill, fast-paced metal album. However, upon closer inspection, many instances of variety can be found among the onslaught of technical guitar-work and breakdowns galore. This isn't the band's first rodeo, and since their debut album, Judiciary have not only refined their vicious, thrash-induced formula, but have also let their music develop further with the inclusion of more atmosphere and melody.

The opening track "Flesh" starts with some ominous distorted noise, before the drums kick off the unrelenting pace of the next few songs. "Paradigm Piercer" begins with a quiet, little, oriental-sounding melody, before all musicians unite to deliver the catchiest track on the entire album. Gojira fans should definitely give "Knife In The Dirt" a listen — the high-pitched pick scrapes contrasting the lumbering riffs and shouted vocals will no doubt feel very welcome. Rapidly played melodic solos on "Stare Into The Sun", "Cobalt", and "Engulfed", as well as chaotic Slayer-like guitar whining on "Steel Hand God", leave short songs brimming with sonic entertainment.

Lastly, the longest track "Eschatos Hemera" offers a truly epic conclusion to the album. The song title translates to "Last Day", and not only the lyrics succeed in providing a morbid sensation of the apocalypse. With a drawn-out, tension-building atmosphere to commence the beginning of the end, crushing riffs transition to an exquisitely performed guitar solo. The surprising appearance of a melodious, cleanly sung passage makes for a perfect way to finish off this aural devastation.

This isn't the first time Judiciary have left a Metal Storm reviewer satisfied and smiling angry and head-banging, and I hope it won't be the last!