Lifeforce Records, 26th October 2009

Nervecell is a goddamn glory hog. You'd think being a metal band situated in the United Arab Emirates would make plenty of people turn their heads and raise their eyebrows. Being something close to one-of-a-kind is something most groups can only dream of, but for Nervecell, simply standing out in the crowd didn't cut it; it just wasn't enough for them. To fully solidify their band as an entity that warrants global coverage, they first decided to enlist the services of Psycroptic skinsman David Hayley, and then went on to record a really good album. Pfft.

But, hey, who's complaining? Preaching Venom is a heckuva CD.

A death metal outfit, Nervecell effectively spices things up with plenty of technical wizardry. Also making sporadic appearances are glimpses of thrash, as well as a slew of unusually melodic solos that are sure to make even seasoned guitarists green with envy. They might also throw some people off at first. Given that they are so harmonious and the rest of the Nervecell soundscape is so chaotic, it creates a juxtaposition that you don't see too often in the genre. I enjoy the whole beauty-and-the-beast thing that Nervecell makes use of; others might have hoped for a more consistently brutal assault. I don't think people will be disappointed by the album as a whole, though. From the fast footwork of David Hayley to the super-tight riffage that abounds on tracks like "Vicious Circle of Bloodshed", plus the relative beauty of, say, the solo in "Existence Ceased", there's never a dull moment. The album also features a very Diablo-esque acoustic intro in "As I Reign And Slither", plus a full-blown 6-minute instrumental.

I'm impressed. Preaching Venom is well worth the time for anyone who has an appreciation for extreme music.

For more information: www.myspace.com/nervecell