To Be Eaten

On this latest To Be Eaten release, the band proves once again that it can play razor-precise riffs and rhythms while infusing each song with a level of nuance and atmosphere not often heard in anything this heavy. The guitar and rhythms interlock for a savage, almost stridently brutal sound, and yet you always come away from this record feeling energized and not merely angry. Intelligent lyrics informed by a sharp social conscience and compassion add an uncommon depth and edginess to In the Clearing that would be the envy of any rock band. That, coupled with To Be Eaten's notable efforts to push aesthetic barriers as far as possible, make Clearing a truly artistic breakthrough.