Rating: NNN
Mixing old-school NYC tough-guy hardcore with Southern American metal, Birthing The Giant is a loaded slab of punishing rock. Most of it’s pretty standard drop-tune, low-end chug with screechy guitar harmonics that sound like guitarist Scott Middleton is still mourning Dimebag Darrell. Singer Liam Cormier has a mean shout reminiscent of Sick of It All’s Lou Koller, and songs like 100 Grand Canyon and French Immersion should serve them well if they ever tour with Cursed. Bonus devil-horn points for releasing their album on the sixth month of the sixth day of 06.
Cancer Bats fly into the Opera House June 14.