Most people suffer through the end of a relationship at some point in their lives, some deal with it, some don’t. Some people, such as the members of Bullistic, choose to get mildly angry and then proceed to write an album based upon it. Now don’t get me wrong, relationship related catharsis can function as a powerful muse when articulated and projected well, Bullistic however fall short of that target and fail to convey any sort of real passion whilst at the same time fail to introduce anything original to the scene.

The four member US based band has released two previous albums with a different vocalist, with this being their first ‘overground’ release. The band’s sound in a nutshell is a heady, yet unspeakably bland mixture of deep-south metal a la Pantera and grunge tinged stylings a la Staind. Yes, if you are a self respecting metal fan you will have to fight the desire to damage something at the mention of that name but its spectre is very much present on this album.

The record starts off promising with Now & Forever, with a dirty, distorted riff and vocalist Doug Gibson’s Anselmo-esque barks, and then the chorus kicks in and the opening salvo is replaced by simplistic riffing and Gibson attempting to sound like the lost member of Alice in Chains. Unfortunately proceedings continue in this fashion for the next few tracks, with the lyrical content continuing along the lines of relationship angst. The listener is then met with Eulogy, a plodding unimaginative slow-burner which picks up into yet another riff-by-numbers and fails spectacularly to go anywhere, reminding me far too much of the aforementioned Staind, a real low point. That is until you’re met with a cover of Stealers Wheel’s Stuck in the Middle. This track is situated in the dead centre of the record and could only be there for one of two reasons, one that it is meant in jest in which case doesn’t fit with the hurt yet angry tough guy vibe of the album, the other that it is a cheap gimmicky ploy to generate interest. Either way it is a true abomination and destroys any credibility the album may have had. We are then served up he same formula of the first three tracks until the conclusion, Ignorance & Innocence, which repeats the Eulogy blueprint, a truly awful way to close the album.

The only promising things I can draw from this record are the fact that the drumming and bass work is competent as are the few and far between solos and the production is slick (If that’s you’re thing). I feel that if the band took a good look at it’s lyrics and attempted to bring in a bit of originality then they may be able to accomplish something. Until then let this one pass you by.