I don’t know why I passed on this album for so long. The Secret are an amazing band that I have been into for quite a while. They have an great sound and have not let me down yet. “Cross Builder” opens with a lot of feedback and evil screams that slowly lead in. The drums come in with a very doom-y tempo. This song is very reminiscent of Hooded Menace to me. at 3:11, the rest of the band chimes in, which creates a very eerie and melancholic atmosphere. I am loving this. Nice doom riffing with outstanding vocals laid perfectly into the mix. This song is a great example of how to start off an album. “Death Alive” opens with pure, unadulterated grinding. I am instantly reminded of Trap Them. The vocals are not quite the same at Ryan McKenney’s, though. Close, but not exact. I am instantly headbanging to this chugging, punishing track. The vocals are emotional and strong. Nothing is held back whatsoever. This is a band that lays everything out on the table and is not afraid to do what they have to do. Fucking amazing. “Double Slaughter” picks right up where “Death Alive” ended. The same evil atmosphere encases this track. Crusty hardcore elements are very evident but they do not overshadow the grindcore and black metal influences which are also very clear. “Where It Ends” is the shortest track on the album, but that does not make it any less qualified to be praised. Melodic lead guitar riffing makes this track very interesting with all the madness flying around like bullets. Absolutely killer. “Antitalian” is equally as brutal as any track before it. This track holds a lot of those hardcore elements that I mentioned before. I like the straight up riffing that this band encourages. They don’t fuck around with simple chugging around every turn like a lot of bands. I fucking love these vocals. “Weathermen” opens with even more crusty goodness. I cannot help but repeat myself: fucking madness. This band is chock-full of so many different genres they they should have their own. I’m not even sure I know how to break this down. Complex riffing, machine gun drumming and more amazing vocals. What is not to like about The Secret? Another taste of doom! As the song closes in it’s last minute, that chugging doom factor from the intro track creeps back it. This entire album has had a creepy atmosphere and it is very apparent at moments like these. “Pleasure of Self Destruction” is a riffing mad house. Outstanding guitar work and pummeling drum patterns. I sometimes get bored with vocalist who don’t change up their routine, but that is not the case with Marco Coslovich. I absolutely love his vocals. I am almost reminded of The Abominable Iron Sloth, which is another band I fucking adore. I love the groove in the last minute or so of this track. This is definitely a head-nodder. Straight up gnar. “Pursuit of Discomfort” is much in the vein of it’s predecessor. It’s grooving and melodic but at the same time grinding and punishing. I can say nothing bad about this band whatsoever. Every song so far has kept me extremely interested. Their sound and the structuring of these tracks is unbelievable. This band will definitely stand out for a long time. No doubt about that. I cannot believe I am over half-way through this album. I don’t want it to end. This could easily been in my Best Of List last year. Damn me! Why did I have to wait so long! “Bell of Urgency” is faded in directly from the previous track and opened with an evil as fuck lead guitar riff. That doom-y atmosphere is returning. This track is much like the album opener. You slowly get more and more pieces of the puzzle. Those tortured vocals are back. The amount of musical talent this band possesses is out of this world. Every single member of the band plays an equal part. No one is left behind. That is a trait that I find very admirable in today’s music. The vocals, especially, are not overpowering at all. They don’t soar overhead. They sit tightly with the rest of the instruments. I am again reminded of Hooded Menace as the song progresses. Feedback ends the track and another amazing lead riff opens the next, “Eve of The Last Day.” I don’t think it is an accident that the three of the longest tracks on the album (“Cross Builder,” “Bell of Urgency” and “Eve of The Last Day”) are all 5:12. They all have the same structuring as well and after a second listen, they are the same.”Cross  Builder” is different to an extent, but they all use the same idea. Wow. That doom-y atmosphere with the lead riff opening. Fucking amazing. This just goes to prove that this band pays attention to detail and planned for this album to come out exactly as it did. “War Desire” goes back to the grinding sensation that was some of the earlier track. Pure and a straightforward crusty monster. This track is sure to get you back into the grooving, hardcore movement that got you going at the albums start. This track does hold a similarity to those previous. A lead riff plowing it’s way through another atmospheric moment. The track burst back into the violent melee of grindage right before the track closes. “1968″ opens with… You guessed it, dirty, hardcore inspired metal! This track is great right off. Throughout the grind, there is layer of melody and my affection for this band grows greater and greater. Love the lead guitar around 1:50. The song begins to evolve into a more sludge-laden, grooving track as it progresses. Which isn’t a bad thing, or even something that I am surprised at. This band is all over the place. The song takes a turn for the creepy as feedback and droning chords slowly fade out. I can sum up my impression of this album in three words. Holy. Fucking. Shit. I love this band, this album. Amazing work from The Secret.