First off, Johan Liiva's characteristic gruff shout sounds better than ever -- it sounds much more brutal, frenetic and angry on this album, and I think it's awesome. For example, just listen to the first track after the intro: the energetic pace just makes you want to roar along with Liiva. Aside from Furbowl's _Those Autumn Years_ (1994), and Non Exist's _Deus Deceptor_(2002), I think this might be Liiva's best performance yet.

Regarding the guitars: Mattias Ljung's trademark solos are just as excellent as they were before, with their "rocky", melodic and twangy edge to them; but what I did notice right away -- especially after listening to tracks like "Misanthropic Charades", "The Moth", and "The Ferocious Embrace" -- is a rejuvenated sense of depressive, almost haunting melody in some of the solos and refrains (that we really haven't seen since _Pathfinder_). Subtended as the melodies are by Hearse's typical fast, Swedish sounding riffs, this creates the perfect balance between despondent beauty (if there is such a thing) and rough brutality. I have to admit that the aforementioned songs have been stuck in my head for weeks. The drumming is also steady, solid and precise, and we see Mr. Max Thornell incorporating a little more double-bass work than found on previous albums -- which is definitely good, as it adds that extra dimension to the music.

Another noticeable difference is the production and recording: Mr. Swanö has created one of the best productions I've heard in a long, long time. It's strange, but I have to say that the production of the album alone is just a pleasure to listen to on my car stereo. You'll have to listen for yourself, but the guitars, cymbals, tom-toms and bass drum sound are just incredible: they sound heavy, balanced, and full. Gone are they days of Swanö's thin and trebly productions (cf. Edge of Sanity's _Purgatory Afterglow_ from 1994, Ghostorm's _Frozen in Fire_ from 1995, and, especially, Gates of Ishtar's _The Dawn of Flames_from 1997 -- all excellent albums, but the productions left much to be desired).

All said and done, I would highly recommend that all fans of the death 'n' roll sub-genre rush out and buy this album -- you won't be disappointed. As another point of interest, Hearse have made a very high quality and interesting video for the track "Sundown", which is featured on the second bonus disc (along with a live DVD featuring five songs and picture chapter) that comes with the retail copy of _Single Ticket to Paradise_.