OVERCOME’s first run in Christian metallic hardcore came in the early-to-mid nineties and led to several full-length releases on Tooth and Nail, a 7″ on Life Sentence, and a few of the earliest titles to come from a nascent Facedown Records. The band’s style was largely a product of its times, a bit clunky, but with respectable levels of technical nuance and harsh growling/shouting frontman (think UNBROKEN, early CONVERGE). Eleven years after their last stab at things, OVERCOME returns with original vocalist Jason Stinson and several new faces.  Largely, the band has remained true to its sound, and without digging through all of their discography, I reckon The Great Campaign of Sabotage moves at a noticeably faster clip.  Stinson’s caustic vocals are an upfront element, but only when the noodling guitars and juggernaut drumming doesn’t run right over them. Production-wise, whether or intentional or not, OVERCOME lean back on their 90s roots with a thinner, cleaner sound. No bass bombs here… just plenty of room for the guitars to churn, unwind, unleash, and carry songs to their drained endings. “Body of Death” reminds me a ton of fellow 90s contemporary SONS OF ABRAHAM (I’m sure there’s some irony in this comparison)… rolling double-bass as a song intro just kills me every time. If elements of modern metalcore have simply become too cute or smoothed down for you liking, The Great Campaign of Sabotage brings back an edge that’s been sorely needed.

Facedown