Pissed off, groove-heavy, politically charged thrash from Beruit, with hints of Middle Eastern folk (mainly in the form of percussion). Formed in the '90s, Blaakyum lay dormant for awhile, due in part to political persecution of metalheads in Lebanon. (This is their second full-length, after 2012's Lord Of The Night.) Frontman/guitarist Bassem Deaibess does the shouty thrash vocal thing, but also frequently uses a more melodic (but raspy) tone. Not surprisingly, lyrics concern topics like freedom ("Freedom Denied") and religious intolerance ("Religion Of Peace"). Well executed and crisply recorded. More importantly, the angst clearly ain't fake. Damn solid!