New Heaven

Album review

If one were a metal-leaning father figure, they might envision gathering everyone to explain the rules of "good metal" to all who will listen. Come, children! Understand that "good" does not always mean a sick outfit or costume or a uniform, though it certainly doesn't hurt, and if the outfit rules, it might even help. "Good" does not strictly mean a hot lead singer, though a lot of bands can get away with "mysterious" and toss in a few visits to see the Queer Eye team. But most of all, "good" means great guitar riffs, a key element that many metal bands are oddly lacking considering that the entire genre was based on it. Ever heard of Judas Priest or AC/DC?

Enter Inter Arma. With New Heaven, the Richmond, Virginia-based band show that they know their way around the entire genre. Death metal darkness? Got it. Soaring hair metal solos? Quit playin'! Clean vocals that work even juxtaposed against death metal growls? Puh-leeze! But in maybe their most impressive feat, Inter Arma is keeping it tight and avoiding the long-winded marathon, a tightrope they've walked many times in the past. Bloat is the enemy of brutality—and more importantly, the enemy of good.

So besides pivoting and leaving behind the super epic—after all, this is a band with a 46-minute song—what does Inter Arma get right on New Heaven? Well, that the guys are 18 years in, on their sixth album, and are still tinkering with the formula can only mean one of two things: that new way must be damn good, or they have a death wish. (We're unable to confirm the latter, or deny the existence of both.)  But this new direction starts with their blueprint—Neurosis on black metal playing Lynyrd Skynyrd—and adds in modern elements with some impressive new touches to take the band, and heavy music, into new places.   

From the opening note, it's clear that dissonance and darkness are the focus, more so than ever. Elements of Gorguts, Deathspell Omega, Demelich and Portal surface as the band seamlessly switches between death metal stomp, doom battering ram, and the patented IA half-speed riff over blasts. Once you're impressed by the chances the band takes—that all pay off—they'll swing into a track like "Endless Grey," which flies the blue sky like an 80's guitar epic (classic IA), and into an impressive new turn like "Gardens in the Dark," which sounds like a collab between Killing Joke and Fields of the Nephilim.

New Heaven feels like the record that Inter Arma has been working toward their entire career—seamlessly integrating their influences into a singular, cohesive, and unique offering unlike anything else.  Did we mention it's good? Because it's damn good. © Fred Pessaro/Qobuz