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I was excited to see a new album from Canada's legendary speed metal band Razor, their first new music in 25 years. Growing up on Executioner's Song and Evil Invaders had me anxious to hear what the band had come up with. Sadly, Cycle of Contempt bears very little resemblance to Razor's early material. Loud, brash, and very much in your face is how I'd describe the sound of Cycle of Contempt, and everything is served with a big side of anger. The vocals and drums are way up high in the mix, often drowning out the guitars and what might be cool riffs, but it's hard to be sure through the barking shouts and machine-gun pounding. Speed and thrash metal are often violent, but the lyrics on Cycle of Contempt are focused on individual conflict rather than the larger, often socio-political themes thrash bands usually embrace. Songs like "Off My Meds", "Punch Your Face In" and "King Shit" are self-reflecting and a little self-absorbed, and when you combine that with the spiteful shouting and cacophonous drumming, I can't help but be reminded of the New York hardcore scene which often overlapped the metal scene in the '80s. Personally, I find Razor's approach on this album abrasive and the songwriting deviates very little from one song to the next and that makes Cycle of Contempt a chore to sit through. Maybe fans of crossover and perhaps Pantera might find something to like here, but the constant bashing and shouting leaves me reaching for something, anything, else.