Torrential Reign

Tampa, Fla., death metal quartet Unholy Ghost includes three-fourths of the band Olympic signees Diabolic, with the remaining member coming from the band Pessimist. Not surprisingly, Torrential Reign sounds similar to Diabolic, although it is more comparable to their 2001 release Vengeance Ascending than that album's disappointing follow-up, Infinity Through Purification, which was marred by sterile production and an overabundance of triggered drum tones. The production here is much better: the album feels like it was created by actual humans rather than Pro Tools-abusing androids. The songwriting is decent, but the material is not going to sound exceptional to anyone who has heard more than a half-dozen archetypal Florida death metal albums. This is solid Florida death metal with good production and above-average musicianship, yet there is nothing in particular to recommend it over dozens of other albums that could be described in just the same way.