War of Ages

Christian metalcore act War of Ages make their full-length debut (following a self-released 2003 EP) with this self-titled album. The most interesting thing about War of Ages is singer Leroy Hamp's relentlessly positive-themed lyrics, which he delivers with the same level of sore-throat fury as the average dark-themed metalcore singer. Unfortunately, "average" is in every other way a fair description of this album. Although War of Ages' sound will be instantly familiar to the metalcore listener -- the usual two-guitar lineup playing unison riffs, the usual hyper-speed drummer -- these songs are played with an odd lack of dynamics: many of the tunes wander over the four- or five-minute mark, complete with misplaced metal guitar solos, when they would be far more effective a minute or two shorter. Just as damagingly, Hamp's vocal skills are fairly weak; he's an anonymous singer with little personality beyond the unstinting hope and optimism of the lyrics. As lyrically stirring as provocative, thoughtful songs like "False Prophet" and "Stand Your Ground" are, the half-baked performances do the songs few favors.