WITH PASSION 'What We See When We Shut Our Eyes' (Earache) RATING: 6/10

By JEFF MAKI

Prior to the recording of this album, Earache Records' With Passion was forced to replace most of the band due to members leaving for personal issues. Three new members were recruited from the band Conducting from the Grave, along with a new vocalist, Fidel Campos (Cyanide Era, Severance). With Passion previously had released the EP, In the Midst of Bloodied Soil (Reflections of Ruins Records), in 2004, which was subsequently re-released by Earache in 2005. Having not heard the EP, unfortunately, I am unable to compare the two releases. From what I can gather, the band abandoned most of its melodic elements and keyboards in favor of a new, one-dimensional, technical guitar sound to accompany Campos, a more hardcore-suited frontman.

Recorded at Erik Rutan's (Hate Eternal, Morbid Angel) Mana Studios in Florida, What We See When We Shut Our Eyes (May 8, 2007) plays as a non-stop array of fast guitar soloing. The album seemingly never going 30—maybe not even 15—seconds without shredding. It simply is not possible to emphasize the amount of technical guitar soloing that is featured on this album. It is easily 10 times the amount of anything I have ever heard before. Everything takes a backseat to guitarists Jeff Morgan and John Abernathy.

Behind the constant dual-attack is a band that, for lack of a better term, seems rather ordinary. Campos' vocals pack little originality, never deviating from his manic, incomprehensible, high-pitched scream. This style might not even require lyrics, as each wailing scream is almost identical to the next. All songs are played at a more-than-furious pace, an overall vicious speed-metal assault on the eardrums. Maybe after several listens, the massive guitar soloing will become more memorable and make this album more appealing. I just don't know.

With Passion gives the listener an unprecedented overload of guitar on this album. That's not to say it isn't impressive work, but why so much? If half of these solos were removed and replaced with some good old rhythm, the guitar work would still be fantastic and much-needed depth would be present. Some fluctuation in the album's tempo and momentum also would help. With so many guitars coming at you, the album is basically compacted into one song. The skill is here. No question. Now we need a little less showing off and a little more diversity for a complete album.