Gabriel

It's been many years since headbangers have heard a peep from aggressive metallists Believer (1993's Dimensions was the last time they issued a new studio album). But seemingly out of nowhere, the group — which still features original/longtime members Kurt Bachman (vocals) and Joey Daub (drums) — returned in 2009, with Gabriel. The group's first release for the Metal Blade label shows that despite the long layoff between albums, the boys are automatically back in business, as a challenging, almost proggy edge can be detected in all the manic six-string riffing and growling, especially on such tracks as the album-opening "Medwton," plus "Focused Lethality" and the slowly building "The Brave." However, through and through, Believer don't stray all that far from their original path, as Gabriel still contains more than a few nods to vintage late-'80s/early-'90s metal.