SELF-INJECTED REALITY

"Self-Injected Reality" is the 2nd full-length studio album by French metal act Outcast. The album was released through Thundering Records in October 2008. It´s the successor to "First Call / Last Warning" from 2005 and features one lineup change as guitarist Guillaume Peraudeau has been replaced by Jean-François Di Rienzo.

Stylistically the material on "Self-Injected Reality" more or less continue the mix of Slayer type thrash metal riffing and more contemporary progressive thrash/death elements in the vein of acts like Gojira and Hacride. Lead vocalist Wilfried Fagnon has a raw shouting delivery which isn´t far removed from how Max Cavalera (Sepultura, Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy...etc.) sounds. A few times he takes on a more growling vocal style, but it´s not the dominant vocal style. Outcast occasionally also venture into more progressive territories, but it´s moments here and there and not the dominant sound on the album.

"Self-Injected Reality" features a sharp, detailed, and powerful sounding production, which suits the material well. The musicianship are on a high level too (...and Jeff Waters of Annihilator guests with a solo on "Autonomy In Progress", casting a bit of stardust over the recording), and while the songwriting insn´t the most unique, the material are still both effective and memorable and "Self-Injected Reality" definitely is a recommendable release if you enjoy sharp, heavy, groove laden, aggressive thrash/death metal with occasionally more adventurous (semi-progressive) moments. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives)