CLEANBREAK – Coming Home

Cleanbreak is yet another Frontiers Records project where highly skilled musicians have joined forces and the results usually vary when it comes to these kinds of outfits and bands, but Cleanbreak are pretty darn cool and deliver a loud and crunchy album inspired by classic heavy metal and power metal. The gifted James Durbin is in charge of the vocals and does a stellar job throughout, and the group as a whole is a potent and musically strong one. The production packs a solid punch too and the sound of the guitars is fucking phenomenal – just listen to how raw and in-your-face they are in ‘Before the Fall’ and ‘Dying Breed’. The latter is the most memorable cut along with the uplifting ‘Find My Way’ and the wildly catchy ‘Dream Forever’, but there are several good tunes to be discovered and enjoyed here and only a couple of mediocre or forgettable tracks.

These guys are not out there to reinvent the wheel or revolutionize anything; they churn out thunderous and easily accessible metal music that pays homage to the greats of the genre while simultaneously sounding fresh and current. Simply put, Coming Home is an energetic and engaging LP that bodes well for the future should this constellation of musicians decide to do some further recording together.