After an independently released EP and a year-long hiatus, the metalcore band from Columbus, The Crimson Armada, have released their first full-length album under Metal Blade records, well known for other metalcore act As I Lay Dying.

The album starts of with "Guardians," a five-minute-long song that can feel longer than it needs to be, but delivers lots of energy from start to finish. Then there's "The Sound, The Flood, The Hour," which kicks off with the line "God give me strength, You know I need it. Say 'Submit to me!' And I'll concede." It's a very powerful statement which lets the listener know where their faith as a band lies. "The Serpent's Tongue" is one of the less gritty sounding songs on the album with a really deep growled vocal towards the end of the song.

"Revelations," the sixth track, features a guest appearance from For Today's lead vocalist, Mattie Montgomery to create an epic collaboration. My personal favorite, "Desecrated," features very fast vocal delivery, almost rivaling speeds you'd typically hear in rap or hip hop music. "The Architect," though not the last track on the album, is the last song that kicks of with a symphonic intro and introduces the same level of energy featured in the rest of the album.

All tracks feature lots of double bass pummeling, gritty vocals, and a number of breakdowns. Be warned though, there are no clean vocals on this record, so if you're not up for forty-plus minutes of screams and growls with fast-paced drumming and distorted guitars, this record isn't for you. If you want a straight-up, easy-to-understand, unashamed declaration of God's glory screamed, then The Crimson Armada's Guardians is worth it.

JFH Reader Review: written by Samson Aken'Ova, 7/11/11, for Jesusfreakhideout.com