I.N.R.I. are rooted in old-school death metal, back from before the genre had shed off much of its thrash influence. There is a welcome reliance on melody and guitar solos, although this kind of unabashed brutality shouldn't be confused with the likes of In Flames. The breakneck pace rarely lets up, but there are identifiable riffs amidst all the sonic maelstrom. Lyrically the band tread rudimentary ground, and as such are most endearing on tongue-in-cheek anthems like "1000 Pounds of Pure Satan" and "Thrash Until Found Worthy". Despite the old-school death feel, most songs deal with social and political themes in a self-empowering manner a la Pantera, although the similarities to the two bands end there.

I.N.R.I. show promise with their sophomore effort, but need a little extra kick to take them to the next level. Perhaps the recent line-up changes will provide exactly that.