Inflict the Inevitable is the debut of Fuelblooded, who have been around since 1989! Clearly they aren't exactly new to the metal scene, which shows through all aspects of the disc. Artwork by Travis Smith, mixing and mastering done by Jacob Hansen; all in all a very professional debut album.

Fuelblooded's sound falls under the realms of both melodic death and old-school thrash. Inflict the Inevitable is chock-full of twin guitar melodies and memorable solos and I'm more likely to name-drop bands like The Defaced, Diablo, and Darkane than Soilwork and In Flames with regards to their approach to the genre. One element that distinguishes the band from some of their peers is their use of the slower tempos, with a focus on bludgeoning riffs that will pound your ears into the ground, rather than offering face-melting speed. One listen to "Measure Swords" or "Hate of a Thousand Ages" will show you just how massive a guitar sound they can pull off. While they occasionally bring out the full-speed thrash, such as the blistering "Constructive Destruction", much of the disc goes into the midtempo or slower pace. Another aspect of the band is the vocals of Vital Welten. In addition to the standard growls, he pulls off different variations of clean vocals that feel more akin to old-school thrash than the ever-increasing poppy primadonna standard. These fit the music perfectly and give the band some additional variation without watering down their sound.

While Fuelblooded aren't pushing down boundaries, they've carved out a nice little niche for themselves with Inflict the Inevitable. While I've always been more of a speed freak and would have liked to have seen a bit more on that front, there's no denying the crushing midtempo riffage that has it's power on full display here. A solid death/thrash effort.

Standout Tracks: Constructive Destruction, Art of Life, The Hangman's Burden