Wait a minute... this can't be GRIM REAPER can it? On their third full-length, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD kick the "Painkiller" in favor of a more "Sin After Sin" style. While their molten and overly Metal moments are still intact, "Here Awaits Thy Doom" changes the pace a bit. Now a four-piece, the band digs in and tries something not all that new.

Opening with the righteous "Battles And Brotherhood", 3 INCHES OF BLOOD sound far less polished than their previous releases. With a more classic production style and more traditional guitar licks, the band makes a heavy nod to some of the best NWOBHM bands. Things really pick up with "Rock In Hell"; perhaps an evil cousin of one of GRIM REAPER's classic cuts, this song has plenty of bite and even enough cheese to make MANOWAR blush. One of the standout tracks on the disc, the song is creepily catchy and has a great grungy crunch. "Silent Killer" lays on even more goofy lyrics but slays with great riffs and catchy hooks. "Fierce Defender" benefits from great galloping rhythms and a rather epic feel, but "Preacher's Daughter" falls apart in some sort of weird 70's Rock fury that really is only worth listening to for the soloing. "Call Of The Hammer" finds the band finally finding that ripping Thrash pace and unleashing the harshest and heaviest track on the disc. Both the goofy "Great Glacier" and the macabre and varied "All Of Them Witches" benefit from the galloping riffs and knee-jerk changes in Metal moods. And perhaps the true gem of the disc, "Execution Tank" drips with epic melodies and full-blown aggression. Some of the best riffs and melodies on the disc are contained within this 7-minute molten masterpiece.

While Cam Pipe's strained and neutered KING DIAMOND falsetto instantly polarizes listeners and still sounds like a novelty, the real star of the show are guitarists Shane Clark and Justin Hagberg. Their subtle shredding, heavy hooks and spot on melodies make them the second coming of Dave Murray and Adrian Smith. Plain and simple, these boys know how to solo and rip out a good riff, and Hagberg also somehow finds time to pick up and deliver the snarled vocals. The production is rather raw and that also helps, as the disc sounds much more organic. It also pours a great retro-NWOBHM sound on thick that immediately brings to mind bands like those previous Rockers of Hell, GRIM REAPER.

The Metal on "Here Waits Thy Doom" is bombastic and bellicose. While not as zany or fast as previous albums, "Here Waits Thy Doom" finds the band sounding much more original and the musicianship is much improved. But there still are moments where it is very difficult to take the music seriously and that really can only be blamed on the clichéd lyrics and the vocal performances. In the end, the only thing keeping 3 INCHES OF BLOOD from being dismissed as dopey D&D Metal is the guitarists' astonishing axe abilities. Some of the songs here will simply rock non-poser Metalheads while a few others cuts may grate some nerves. While neither a bad album nor a flawless feat, "Here Waits Thy Doom" may actually win the band a few more fans, as after multiple listens as the true Metal contained within becomes a bit of a guilty pleasure. Not recommended for those who hate MANOWAR or glass shattering vocals.