Many of the uninitiated will be claiming that Heavy Metal is making a comeback in the UK; that the genre is becoming trendier and farther reaching in its appeal. The fact of the matter is that metal never went away. There are just fewer bands peddling the hackneyed fad of nu-metal in favour of the more musical approach that always distinguished the finest metal.

I-(def)-I *are yet another recent example of fine homegrown metal. They play gritty riffs that astound due to their equal measure frantic brutality and restrained melody. *Chris Maher’s impassioned vocals follow suit, switching between rasping, guttural screams and tuneful singing reminiscent of Layne Staley on occasion, but also of Chester Bennington. I understand how that might bring back bad memories for some.

The title track is undoubtedly their finest moment here as they blitz through thunderous drums and staccato opening guitarwork blending seamlessly into carefully bludgeoned riffery with Maher spluttering his lyrics forth like a young Patton. As with all six of the tracks found on their debut ep, _Bloodlust Casualty _descends into a carefully orchestrated ménage of downtuned chaos and this kind of maelstrom is welcome every time.

*I-(def)-I *aren’t following any trends. The quartet aren’t going to be stuck in with the anythingcore labels. They write solid songs and perform them with the same gusto. This is heavy metal, plain and simple, and it is not going anywhere. Don’t you forget it.