Kingdom of Sorrow's self titled debut release brings exactly what you would expect from metal veterans Jamie Jasta, of Hatebreed fame, and Kirk Windstein, of Crowbar and metal supergroup Down. I first heard Kingdom of Sorrow on Sirius Radio on channel 27, Hard Attack, and from hearing the track "Buried in Black" I wanted to check more out from the band and having the chance to review the metal combination is something I had to jump on.

Kingdom of Sorrow combines the metalcore of Hatebreed and the sludge sound of Crowbar into what could be the metal album of 2008. The band sounds exactly what you would expect but that is not a bad thing in this case.

The album is full of the hardcore barks and sing-a-longs that you would expect from Jasta, the lyrical content of the album will have fans singing along at any future tours or shows the band throws themselves into. The lyrical content combined with Windstein's amazing guitar work create a masterpiece of an album.

The album's lead-off track "Hear This Prayer for Her" has been played through my speakers numerous times and wastes no time in showing you what the rest of the album has in store. It launches into a monstor riff by Windstein and the riffs continue through the rest of the album.

Later in the album you hear slower tracks "With Unspoken Words" and "Screaming into the Sky" that slow the pace down but keep the successful formula running. Some may think the album is too repetitive and a one-trick pony but why change a successful combination of two of the most notable names in heavy metal today.

The album's flawless execution, wonderful production and focused songwriting should have any other band, metal or not, taking notes on how to release an excellent album. I will admit at times the album does sound a bit repetitive but it does not take away from the sheer excellence of the music.

This album is a definite purchase for any metal fan especially if you are a Hatebreed or Crowbar fan. The three songs provided for me to review pumped me up enough to check out the whole album and I was not disappointed at all.