91 Allstars have been around for quite a while. Their first effort, an ep, was already released in 2005, followed by a split with Danforth and a full-length, 'This is the law'. This new album, 'Retour Vers La Lumière (translation: 'Back To The Light') comes with a new line-up and a bit of a different approach to death metal. Besides sheer brutality, there's plenty of room for melody and technical highlights. Yet, don't get me wrong, this still is some crushing music.
After a short intro, 91 Allstars blast away with the fierce 'Omniscience', a monster of a song, driving on sheer speed. Bands like Sick Of It All and Hatebreed come to mind but are immediately pushed back by the likes of Gojira, Lamb Of God and Killswitch Engage. The recipe is repeated in the following songs, each being as sick and disturbed as the previous one, highlighting in 'Richesse Humaine' and 'L'Aube Des Princes'. Although I have to say that 'Les Ombres De La Perdition' is probably my favorite track.
If you're into blast-beats, technical riffs and deranged growls, you should definitely get your hands on this amazing piece of work. Even if you don't understand a word they're grunting you will easily be immersed into the massive sound of 91 Allstars. Hell, it's death metal, it's not obligated to understand the lyrics. These guys clearly understand how to make an album loaded with relentless tempos and piercing riffs and they manage to get plenty of variation into their sound.
Serge