Pennsylvania group Varials' debut full-length, Pain Again, checks off most of mosh metal's grocery list; it's full of violent breakdowns and squeaky guitar leads. Vocalist Travis Tabron's vulnerable lyricism and nostalgia-inducing performance is the record's most captivating feat, often recalling Chad Ruhlig of Legend/For the Fallen Dreams fame (who, ironically, is featured on "God Talk").
"Deliverance" finds the band at their strongest. There should have been more songs modeled after this to replace the duds that crowd the track list ("Colder Brother," Empire of Dirt"). Pain Again feels like a more youthful take on Emmure's Goodbye to the Gallows — how you feel about that will dictate whether or not you dig this record.
(Fearless)"Deliverance" finds the band at their strongest. There should have been more songs modeled after this to replace the duds that crowd the track list ("Colder Brother," Empire of Dirt"). Pain Again feels like a more youthful take on Emmure's Goodbye to the Gallows — how you feel about that will dictate whether or not you dig this record.