Eight years after their last album, Nails reappear as an almost entirely different band. Guitarist and vocalist Todd Jones is now joined by Warbringer drummer Carlos Cruz, current Despise You bassist Andrew Solis and Ulthar guitarist Shelby Lermo, resulting in arguably their most overtly metallic outing yet.
The savage blasting of Punishment Map and the pit-ready, knuckle-headed grooves in the aptly titled Lacking The Ability To Process Empathy are exactly what you’d expect from a Nails record, but the frantic licks of Give Me The Painkiller sound practically speed metal by comparison. I Can’t Turn It Off makes room for scorching guitar leads, and even the obligatory chugging closer No More Rivers To Cross has more of a showboating swagger to it than usual.
