Hypocrisy

Over the course of 11 records, Hypocrisy have gone from a proficient, if somewhat unoriginal, metal band to one of Sweden's finest purveyors of melodic death metal still in operation. "Hang Him High" is excellent proof of the band's continuing viability, but the entire record bursts its seams with a monstrously heavy guitar sound. Peter Tagtgren's growled, screeched and spoken vocals also contribute to the wave of pure volume that erupts with opener "Valley of the Damned" and never lets up for the rest of the album.