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This is a band whose lyrical content seems to revolve around Chinese history, a nice break from Vikings and the likes, I guess. ;) Ripped to Shreds is well named as a death metal outfit as this is exactly how you'll feel after listening to their music. It's old-school death metal delivered with modern death metal speed, with razor-sharp guitars and fast, thunderous drumming that will make you reach for your headache medication. The vocalist sounds a bit like Paul Speckmann (of Master fame, among others) at times, enough so that I had to check the lineup, just in case. Fast and brutal this album is, but there are quieter moments ("quiet" being relative here—hehe) where the music leads more to headbanging without your head snapping off your neck. The use of melody, especially in the solos, is surprising when it pops up after the fast and brutal, visceral parts. Some of the solos made me think that I was listening to some heavy/power metal (not the flowery kind) and not death metal, and I like how this all gels together. This is one of those death metal albums that beats you senseless and leaves you begging for more.