Album review: Glassjaw – Material Control

Fire and brimstone, daemons crawling out of catacombs to tear us limb from limb. Angels of death swinging their scythes high and low.

It's what religion and doomsday merchants have been predicting for ever. And if it is to fall upon us soon, then this is the soundtrack it would carry itself out to.

Glassjaw are back. The New Yorkers haven't given us a full-length LP since 2002's Worship And Tribute, and they have been missed. That post-hardcore scene has never felt as slick and greasy without them.

The building of elements here is majestic. Industrial meets atmospheric head on and shakes its hand so vigorously it rips its arm clean off.

And the fact we can only hear it digitally in Europe for now makes it even more mysterious for the imagery used above - but fear not, a hard release is set for early 2018 (apocalypse dependent).

Deftones are made to look positively chipper by a lot of what goes on here. Glassjaw are so deliciously grizzly they make a big brown bear seem more Paddington then petrifying.

Those griddled guitars in closer are beautiful, they evoke pain and heartbreak in the most vicious way imaginable. Daryl Palumbo's vocals are really allowed to soar here. Perhaps undervalued for his vocal talents, he holds court with ease.

Then there is the bassline throughout my conscience weighs a ton that is so dirty it would give the Grimefighters on ITV nightmares for weeks.

The album takes a brief relentless doom-mongering break throughout the title track, but those heavy drums are still pretty threatening. The violence throughout pompeii is also hard-hitting and thumped home through that ferocious percussion from Chad Hasty.

Screeching throughout golgotha are guitars which sound mortally wounded. This is where the doomsday vibes flow most. You can picture the world ending around you as this blazes forward, again drums propelling the fury around them with their continued pummelling.

It's dark and it is glorious. Welcome back guys, don't leave it so long next time.

Rating: 8/10

Glassjaw are expected to announce a European tour in the near future with the details of the hard record copies