Reviewed by Christian Cunningham

After their highly acclaimed debut, this second album has delivered on pretty much every count. Melding grooves heavy enough to plough fields with to scorching lead guitar with sumptuous results, 'Temptation Come My Way' is the sound of a band who have hit upon a winning formula. Slick and well produced, this slab of metal is straight out of the steamy swamps and tracks like "Breath Of The Swamp", with its sludgy riffing, sit alongside frantic, windmill-headbang inducing cuts like "Spitting In The Wind". There is a more melodic element to this album than heard on the previous disc, but it's not at the expense of pummelling the listener into submission. Cleaner vocals are used predominantly but frontman David Bunton's colossal roar rears its head on a couple of tracks, and the only possible criticism this reviewer could make is that it's perhaps not used enough. When they take their foot off the gas though, such as on the title track, there is still no respite as the hooks come thick and fast and refuse to leave your brain. An excellent album that has cemented The Showdown as a force to be reckoned with in the coming years.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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