Corporate Punishment Records is officially poised to take the metal world by storm with a roster of artists that continue to be the pinnacle of quality no matter what upper echelon of the spectrum they inhabit. Seriously folks, outside of Century Media there is not another label with such quality oozing from its back door, threatening to make turtles mosh and bang their funny little heads about.

3 MILE SCREAM hail from Montreal, which is like the Sweden of Canada, and are an accurate representation of a diverse rainbow (in shades of black, course) of sounds and styles from a region currently more well known for its overtly brutal nature than for bands who push a more melodic agenda. With "A Prelude To Our Demise", the men in 3 MILE SCREAM are set on bringing back Metal in a big and nasty way. Already winning accolades from names such as Randy Blythe and Michael Amott, the expectations are justifiably high for something truly special. And something special is indeed delivered in spades.

Beginning with a throw away interlude and progressing into Melodic Metal land, "Mourning The Lost" shows off the bands chops, and those chops nip savagely at the ankles of every Core kid this side of the St. Lawrence. There is something here for everyone: flail your arms or bang your head and just sit and enjoy. The production is crisp, the vocals alternate between frantic yelping and emotive crooning, and the drums careen like a train almost ready to fall off its tracks. This album is the zenith of this particular form. It is surely a Core-style, but I think a more accurate description would be Montreal-core, as every band from that area of the world has a sound uniquely their own in spite of the influences that drive it. From start to finish, 3 MILE SCREAM deliver an absolute pounding not unlike SYL, turning more tricks than a back alley in Taiwan. Just sit back, turn down the lights, and be sucked in. If "A Prelude To Our Demise" is actually what the final end entails, I for one welcome it with open arms.