In numerous universities across the country, Freshers’ Week is coming to an end, and with it comes the yearly regret at just how many Jägerbombs it’s possible to chuck down your gullet for a fiver. However, even the most LADish of students couldn’t dare to compete with Crossfaith in their love for the liquor and energy combo. The Japanese metallers first found fame/infamy through their musical ode to the Jägerbomb – which features such inspiring poetry as “Drink all day! Stay away!” and “Tonight I’ll drink all of you with Jägerbomb!“ (whatever that means). Crossfaith are back with new album ‘Apocalyze’, and much like the myriad of poorly made Jägerbombs the band throw back in the video for said song, their return is almost completely relentless.
Sounding like the mental love child of Skrillex and Asking Alexandria, ‘We Are The Future’ opens proceedings with the musical equivalent of a machine-gun. This batshit pace persists throughout the remaining 45 minutes, with stabbing synths weaving in and out of down-tuned riffs straight out of the Killswitch playbook. The fact that Crossfaith manage to make it sound so effortless should be applauded – though the production is perhaps a tad too clean and computerised, leading to many of the synth-heavy tracks just blurring together in a haze.
With ‘Apocalyze’, Crossfaith have almost succeeded in creating a record as batshit as their live shows (which are absolutely balls-to-the-wall ridiculous). It may not be the most groundbreaking of efforts, but sometimes that’s simply not the point. Now – where’s the Jäger?