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CANCER :
SPIRIT IN FLAMES

I was pretty pumped when this sucker showed up in the mail, as I'm a Cancer fan from "back in the day", and have always thought that the band came to a sudden, premature end. This is the their big "come-back" album, (following an odd little EP released last year), and is the first full-length from the group in 10 freakin' years (not 7 as stated in the press release, that's how long they were broken up). We have two of the original trio back in the saddle, John Walker (vocals) and Carl Stokes (drums). Plus we now have in the fold; Dave Leitch on guitar, and Adam Richardson (ex-Assert) on bass. So anyway, as pumped-up as I was, I wondered why it was, that after a few full passes through "Spirit In Flames", I wasn't as overly impressed as I thought I would be? As usual, I think it was that damn nostalgia monkey playing tricks on me again. Over the band's almost decade-long absence, I've built them up in my head as this super kick-ass Death-Metal band. Now however, when I truly try to remember how it was in the good ol' days, it occurs to me that even back in '93 when I was bangin' my head to "Death Shall Rise", I never really considered Cancer a top tier Death-Metal act. I liked them, don't get me wrong, but they were never in the same league as Obituary, Death, Entombed, etc. So, with that in mind, I kind of shifted my expectations and dove back into SIF once more... Cancer is still pushing a Thrashy, mid-paced, old-school vibe (which is a solid plus), and there are some good tunes here. But, just like in the early 90s, they are still just a second tier act. Enjoyable? For sure. Essential listening? No, not really. Fans of the early days, and old bastards like myself will be able to warm up to this fairly easily, but I fear we'll forget it just as fast. Still, I'm glad they're back. For more info, you can find the band on-line at tothegoryend.co.uk.
RATING = 6.5 Death-Metal (Released 2005)

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