Review by Chris Martin

If there were prizes for album titles, The Brutal Harsh Honest Truth from UNDER THE INFLUENCE would win a gold medal. It’s exactly what it sounds like; tough, manly, belligerent yet complex metal. Despite the band’s progressive influences, the music is aimed squarely below the belt so you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to enjoy their music.

The band seems to be moving into slightly more melodic terrain on this album but it’s still heavy enough to beat the listener into submission. This is evident on tracks like Shattered and Painful Reminder, with the latter featuring a spectacular guitar solo from Saxon Smith.  Shattered also features guest vocals from Duane Bonney (ex MODUS VIVENDI, SHADOWPLAY). If you need further evidence of Smith’s abilities, look no further than the instrumentals in Electric Gypsy and Vendetta. It’s not just Smith that has the chops though as drummer Rob Lumsden and bassist Gareth Hughes more than hold their own.

Ultimately, this is not an album of instrumental workouts despite the complexity of the material. However, it is an album of tightly constructed and impeccably executed metal. If you like your prog with more bite and your metal with a little more brains this should go down well.