Critical Assembly

The Indifference of Good Men, the first thing I looked at, of course, was the cover. Nothing flashy and a bit reminiscent of what could have been a Seventies Black Sabbath album cover. Could have stopped there, but I was told not to judge a book by its cover or in this case, an album cover. So, with that, I threw it in my cd player, put on some headphones, cranked it to eleven and pushed play…..

As the first song began I thought I was about to go on a journey with a Psychedelic Rock Band and then…..

BOOM!

It goes right into the speedy metal riffs and punchy double bass one would expect from a Texas Metal band. The song Drain The Flood begins the album; brutal and to the point. Though the song never loses its intensity, the chorus gives you a second to catch your breath while it delivers a glimpse of the singing ability of lead singer Donovan Hand’s vocals before it shoves you back into the pit.

The energy doesn’t heed as the music goes into the next song Feeding the Flesh, and actually, goes into overdrive. While the title track Indifference of Good Men has a heavy yet melodic arrangement, played by guitarists Robert Hicks and Garren Emerson, it compliments Hand’s singing. Don’t let the melody fool you. The song still retains the edge and dominance that makes Critical Assembly a force to be reckoned with. Black Earth is the ultimate showcase of lead singer Donovan Hand’s vocal gamut. From singing to screaming to shrieks to downright carnal growls it lets you know this band means business.

This album saves the best for last, in my opinion, and in this case encompassing all that is Critical Assembly on Invitro Virus, leaving the listener wanting more.

This band is exactly what you would envisage, bringing what you would expect from a metal band representing Austin, Texas. Just like the cover of their album, Critical Assembly is just plain and simple, no holds barred TEXAS F*CKING METAL! - Cody Blue with Ulitmate Local Music

"Lead vocals are the first thing that most listeners pay attention to, so a great performance is essential. Your lead vocals really grabbed us. We don't tag a lot of releases as having great lead vocals, so this is an excellent strength for you to have. We felt the instrumental leads on this album were tuneful, interesting and well-articulated. There's no overplaying here, and nothing seems to be lacking either. Spot on. We think your rhythmic elements on this release can hang with the best of them. Tight, clean and interesting playing." - Hello Music (Feb 08, 2011)

"Formed in 2006, Texas band Critical Assembly solidified their lineup in 2010 and released this album shortly after. Critical Assembly have created a solid metal record that borrows from heavy metal, southern metal, modern metal, and all sorts of sounds, all while keeping their own cohesive, heavy sound. At times all-out fierce and at others rhythmic and groovin', there's not one boring moment to be found here. Just as the music is quite varied, so are the vocals, which range from aggressive growls to screams to soaring clean vocals, all with a gritty tone. Overall, I am very impressed with this effort, and I look forward to hearing more music from Critical Assembly." - Laura Walters, KVRX FM 91.7 (Mar 22, 2011)