Merauder

Oh hey what do you know, Merauder is back. For those that don't remember, Merauder put out the classic crossover album Master Killer in 1995. Master Killer set the stage for what would become a metal soaked final years of the last millennium for hardcore, especially within the confines of New York City. I didn't even know Merauder put out any albums after Master Killer, but apparently they did, which completely ruined my early opening paragraph where I go on and on about bands that really need to just hang it up after too many years away from the game. Oh well, everyone reading this is stoked they didn't have to put up with another one of my rants anyhow.

God is I isn't what I would consider a crossover album due to the progression of metal during the last decade. There isn't a crossover of sounds these days as you could easily put Merauder in the same league as Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, or any other band that I don't pay any heed. The only thing that separates God is I from the plethora of other "made for Headbanger Ball" acts is the fact that Merauder still has at least a smidgen of NYHC swagger that made Master Killer such a timeless classic. It's a shame that same swagger comes of as silly that as it does bravado on God is I.

I don't hate God is I, besides the pretentious album title. But, fact that every song has at one crappy guitar solo followed by a stomped fueled mosh part causes the album to drag, as it gets troublesome to discern track from track. The other problem lies that I really don't care about metal these days either and God is I is primarily a metal album. It's loud and threatening but it's slickly produced and the goofy token tough guy lyrics.

I wanted to like God is I however this is probably my third of fourth time through the album as there is really nothing that clearly sticks out in my mind besides the fret board gymnastics solos and the floor clearing exercises. Well there is that one song that is completely sung in Spanish, wasn't expecting that. Nevertheless, it sounds like Merauder going through the paces of being yet another metal band that at one time had hardcore roots. I know not every album can be Master Killer but they don't have to be Run of the Mill Metalcore either. God is I is just another album out of countless albums I have reviewed for this site that's just there. The band, however, does score an extra point with that completely ludicrous cover art.

5.5 / 10 — Jason