review by: Abhishek Chatterjee

It's very easy to be misled about the type of music these guys play if you haven't already heard of them. Especially with an album name like that. Nostradamus??? What did Nostradamus ever have to do with brutal blasting death metal? I guess I'll save that question for an interview later so lets see what the music has to offer here.

Remember the straight-for-the-throat approach of the last few Malevolent Creation releases? And remember the way the riffs from the new Vital Remains stick in your head, refusing to let go? Be ready to get a sense of deja-vu while you listen to this pillaging carnage that has been unleashed from the depths of the once revered Floridian scene.

Duane Timlin (Judas Iscariot, Forest of Impaled) has now been added to the existing line-up of ex-Malevolent Creation member Jason Blachowicz and ex-Paingod guitarist J.P. Soars. I haven't heard either of their previous two albums, but according to the band write-up this effort is more in line with the first album, Redemption, due to its "fast, furious and extremely brutal" approach.

I think the word "simple and catchy" can also be added to the above description without altering the original meaning.

Timlin's drumming has to be given special mention since he (very cleverly) refrains from using the constantly running double bass pattern that many drummers of this genre do so frequently. Overall, this is a very enjoyable album if you are fond of death metal with a strong emphasis on the basics. (7/10)