The Thin Line Between…Well, it sure isn’t the line separating the zenith of Trilateral Progression and the bowel sludge of Cryptopsy’s latest offering (damn your eyes Flo). No, definitely not! These fucking guys are poised to rule Canadian metal now! In 1995 I saw Neuraxis live for the first time in support of Trilateral Progression. When they set it off with "A Curative Struggle" I knew it was going to be one of the best sets I’d ever seen. Like a school girl who just got fucked by her secret crush, I was more than pleased. Three years later…

Ian’s done? The boys had recently released a live album entitled Live Progression (2007) to follow up relentless touring from 2005-2007. Apparently, vocalist Ian Campbell was having some health issues in addition to making the band less of a priority as far as main guitarist and songwriter Rob Milley was concerned. I was just getting over the other Canadian vocal debacle and realized that this could work out if the law of averages means anything. The addition of Alex Leblanc works for me. I had no idea who this guy was, but let’s just say he fits in quite well. For a band that is sometimes labeled melodic and progressive, he has a deliberately death metal approach. Good choice! I would describe his vocals as a slightly less intelligible Frank Mullen with the low-mid eq bumped up. He is not as intense or dynamic as Ian, but it’s a very solid vocal outing.

The production…I’d say it has a transparent viscosity on par with the finest vaginal secretion. Tommy McKinnon’s drumming is less restrained and hits perfectly in the mix. There are plenty of blasts, but space also has its place throughout. The guitars and bass are all razor sharp. In fact, the production is about as good as I’ve heard. Those 5150’s are in fine form. Eddie Van Halen would be proud to hear his amps bludgeoning so beautifully in ‘08, but he’s too busy recording music for soft porn.

Overall, there is a bit more of a dark atmosphere looming on this album with song writing emphasized over technicality and speed. There are no overt attempts at sounding technical or progressive. The songs feel like a natural progression (that was the only word that made sense) from the last album. This is not Origin, but it sure as hell isn’t overly melodic either. Neuraxis somehow manages to sound unique and leaves me without too many comparable bands. That is a tough combo to beat. Simply put, Neuraxis sounds like modern death metal should, just enough divergence and melody to stay interesting.

Let’s put a few of the album’s ten tracks into perspective. The opener is very solid but leaves you wanting more. Then track two, "Wicked" emerges from an acoustic intro. It gains momentum via gigantic whole notes with a meandering guitar riff circling the ever widening epicenter of chaos to come. It then launches into one of the most slamming/grooving riffs I’ve ever heard. Like various parts of None So Vile, I gets them chills arunnin’ throughout my entire body. Next comes "Versus". Here is an example of a winning formula for excellence in songwriting. I love how the guitar is stripped down to a power glissando that relentlessly cycles. It’s nothing mind-blowing, just vicious as hell. The song builds into a frenzy while that same knifing guitar slides and surges through. Then it dies into an interesting yet wandering break only to have that sinister shuriken continue slicing through again. I must admit that the middle of the album can become a blur though. The title track, song 5, clocks in at 8:33. The first minute is furious but soon thereafter I feel compelled to make a trip to the fridge. Tracks 8 and 9 are cool but kind of run into each other a little too seamlessly. Let’s just say I’m glad the album’s conclusion is killer.

The final offering, "The All and the Nothing" builds from, yes, another acoustic intro. It then morphs from acoustic into cut time distortion with one of those death grooves that make you want to bounce around like MC Hammer after another successful TBN pledge drive. I cannot say this is better than Trilateral Progression, but it is in the same league. These dudes are poised to rule Canada like St. Pierre. Oh wait, NO PANDERING!!!!

Written By: Silky Bravado