Immortal

Faith and ferocity are delivered in equal measure on Immortal. Connoisseurs of Christian hardcore will connect with the breakdowns, bass drops, and blistering guitar volleys that anchor the Iowa-based quintet’s sound. There’s also strong melodic content and an effective balance of harsh and clean vocals (courtesy of frontman Matty Montgomery). The album is a warrior’s testimony, with all the pain, fear, and valor that description implies. “I can feel the courage rising,” Montgomery roars in “Freedom,” the battle cry that sets the album's overall tone. Themes of praise and devotion dominate the tracks. “Stand Defiant” (a hard-slamming anthem that spits in the eye of the enemy) and “My Confession” (a rhythmically shifting tune culminating in a fiery spoken-word sermon) stand out for their piercing attacks and radical messages. P.O.D.’s Sonny Sandoval (“The Only Name”), August Burns Red’s Jake Luhrs (“Set Apart”), and Sleeping Giant’s Tommy Green (“Under God”) lend their voices to help make Immortal an arresting work of aggressive reverence.