Adversary are talented, no question about that, On Singularity, guitarists Kenny Harrison and Bread Ryder bust out some killer riffs and solo particularly on the epic instrumental "Ashes Of Faith," while drummer Justin Green propels the music forward with a surprisingly deff attack. The mix makes bassist Daniel Tidwell a nonentity, though we're sure he's fine. But all these riffs, all these solos, all these dynamic shifts from crazed thrashing to dreamy choruses just kinda sound like Trivium outtakes, Only vocalist William Clapp gives the band a unique sonic identity, and it's not always in a good way - he careens from Glen Benton-esque roars to Angela Gossow-like shrieks, and then rips off Matt Heafy on the choruses. Singularity is a solid, purist metal album and some may even find themselves liking it better than Trivium albums, but Adversary are not breaking any molds.

Compared to the other artists on Trustkill Records roster, Adversary was a relatively new addition and because so I wasn't sure how well they would fit with the NJ based label. So when their latest album "Singularity" came in, I wanted to see how much this five-piece from Manassas VA could bring to the table. And I've got to say, for a band I just found out about a few weeks ago, Adversary really has some break out talent. The clear production and crisp sound quality are at the center of a set of dueling melodic guitars and crashing drums. I first thought of the masterful guitars and charging percussion of All That Remains (minus the whiney singing) and substitute it for brutish growls, high pitched screeches, and some well delivered singing. Adversary seems to love pushing it to the limit with blistering fretwork and an unstoppable tempo. "Singularity" does follow a fairly well treaded path with regards to the collective sound of the whole album. You will begin saying to yourself "wow this sounds a lot like (enter metal band name here)," but usually if a band is very good at what they do, the unique critique gets left in the dust. Adversary will receiving many hours of play time in my stereo not because of how original they are, but because of how well they can do the already discovered. In my book, if it has talent and flawless guitars, it can't be wrong and that is this album to a T. Or a singulariT.

Harnessing Arch Enemy's unbridled metal maelstrom, Adversary literally explodes out of the gates! Before the first song "Hedonist", had finished, it was obvious this band deserves to be signed. "The Grand Mistake" causes a great bout of air guitar. The riffs are to die for, sounding as though they were brought to life in Gothenburg, Sweden, when in actuality Manassas, Virginia is home to metal's next big band. Their playing is at a fevered pitch, full of precision pounding. William Clapp's scathing cynical vocal delivery is fuelled by politically and socially charged messages. Cool artwork courtesy of Niklas Sundin from Dark Tranquility completes a near perfect package. [9.5 / 10]

After honing their craft for the past five years, the Virginia based band Adversary is unleashing their debut CD Singularity. One meaning of singularity is “one of a kind,” and although Adversary aren’t completely unique, they add enough twists and turns to make an interesting debut CD. Their sound combines European melodic death metal with lots of good old American groove. They add in elements of thrash and metalcore for even more diversity. The songs on Singularity are heavy with plenty of intensity, but also lots of melody. Driving guitars and blast beats inject extremity and brutality, but Adversary also adds plenty of hooks to make the songs more accessible. “Ashes Of Faith” even has strings, which is a nice touch. The vocals are also diverse, combining melodic singing and harsh screams. William Clapp has a decent singing voice, and the melodic vocals are solid. I prefer the harsh vocals, as the high and low pitched screams are more distinctive and add an edge to the groove. Singularity is a strong debut, and Adversary is a band that has the potential for commercial success while holding on to their metal credibility.

Sound: The latest addition to the Trustkill Label, Adversary, shows plenty of promise in terms of being an offshoot of the Gothenburg metal sound – even though they hail from Virginia. The description “audio assault on the senses” is thrown around a lot when talking about metal, but Adversary’s debut album Singularity fits it perfectly. There is rarely a dip in energy, almost to the point of being manic at times. Musically it’s a fascinating listen between vocalist William Clapp’s Cradle-of-Filth-style of high-pitched singing, and the particularly incredible guitar team of Kenny Harrison and Brad Ryder. You do get some alternating melodic vocals in the mix, which in this particular case, creates a much-needed balance. In the first seconds of Singularity, there is an eerie calm and you might think there will be a slow build on the opening track “Hedonist.” Oh, no. Adversary wastes no time in bursting out with nonstop double bass pedals, creepy screams, and distortion-fueled guitars. That’s not to say that the band’s debut release Singularity doesn’t take time to allow melody to come through. “Hedonist” gives us a taste of some beautiful guitar harmonies, which are enhanced by the alternating melodic vocal style. In this track and pretty much every other one on Singularity, the musicianship is what comes to the forefront, and there are some pretty complex arrangements that accentuate the band’s overall chemistry. The main issue is the overall cohesiveness of the songwriting, which again, tends to have a manic feel. There’s nothing wrong with nonstop energy, but the musical sections within the same song don’t always fit that well together. “Manifest Humility” is a perfect example because you get section after section of cool material, and they just seem to come from out of nowhere. When you separate one hook from the core melody and so on and so on, it’s not always a seamless transition. In a way, this does keep your attention, and I will give them that. And even if the songs don’t always work perfectly, Adversary still has some awesome shredders that will have you wishing that you could see just exactly how they’re playing particular parts. The overall speed, aggression, and energy are given the spotlight, but when they do bring things down, it almost sound heavier. “By Apathy Undone” once again assaults the senses, and a little before the mid-point, there’s a very cool, grooving breakdown. It’s in those types of moments that Adversary rises above the rest. The band also saves the best for last with “Wisdom In Regret, ” which starts out with a Megadeth-like lead riff and is solid from that moment on. From the machine gun-like effect of the vocal-percussion combo to the extremely memorable chorus, Adversary proves itself to be a formidable force in metal. // 8 Lyrics and Singing: We received an advanced copy of Singularity, and sadly there weren’t any liner notes to give us a rundown of every song’s lyrics. Clapp isn’t the easiest to comprehend, but I was able to find a few songs’ content via the beautiful Internet. There is an intensity to the music, and it seems the lyrics follow suit. There is almost a poetic, philosophical to a song like the title track “Singularity” with lyrics such as, “And as this ontological Renaissance does become me; May the sands of time engrain in a man.” These aren’t lines just tossed together to make the usual rhyme scheme, and it appears the band put just as much energy into the lyrics as the music. // 9 Impression: Although it is exhausting to listen to a few songs on Singularity, Adversary does find the perfect balance of energy and solid songwriting in many of the tracks. “Wisdom of Regret” is a downright perfect song, while the instrumental “Ashes of Faith” has a great mix of driving guitars, rhythmic insanity, and a calming string section. Even on the tracks that seem more chaotic than cohesive, there is a ton of creativity and that speaks well for Adversary’s future. // 8

The stylish guitar wank-outs of Brad Ryder and Kenny Harrison on Adversary's debut might make In Flames a bit nervous in the fingers. And if you think Arch Enemy's Angela Gossow sounds ferocious, wait 'til you hear William Clapp's evil roar. But before you go as far as labeling Adversary's hometown of Manassas, Virginia, the new Gothenburg, Sweden, notice how "In Vino Veritas" and "Hedonist" also recall the U.S. Grade-A grit, groove, and melody of Slayer, Lamb of God, and Fear Factory.

Adversary have made quite a statement on their assertive debut album, not only establishing themselves as one of America's more promising new metal acts, but one-upping some of their veteran peers. In fact, Singularity succeeds in every way that Trivium’s bloated Shogun fails, unleashing a barrage of riffs and vocal hooks, while remaining disciplined enough to know when to say when. While the ubiquitous, mid-paced melodic death metal sound of In Flames is put to full use, the quintet refuses to rely on that style as a crutch. Instead, they’ve added a taut, precise thrash element similar to Kreator, while vocalist William Clapp’s authoritative clean passages offset Mille Petrozza-like snarls. The throttling “Hedonist” is a terrific, barnstorming opener and the churning title track could pass for a very solid Clayman outtake, but ultimately it’s the multilayered instrumental “Ashes Of Faith” that best displays this talented band's tremendous potential.

Track One ‘Hedonist’ will soon get you sitting up and listening. The mastery of the double-foot drum is oh so clear! These guys are monsters of metal, echoing pure brilliance. Heavy guitaring accompanies a raw vocal delivery throughout verses and as we enter the bridge section, the vocals soften and the drums enter with a minute of double-foot onslaught (wow). This band are going to take the metal world by the balls and kick them into submission, Adversary are something new, something special. Every time I go to make a comparison to another artist, I am blown away by their unique approach. This is certainly a band who are not content with replicating the sounds of their idols, but rather proving that they are true to themselves in their sound and real contenders. Make way, Adversary are coming! Track 2 ‘The Grand Mistake’ has some really crisp guitar licks and harmonised riffing, proving once again that Adversary have taken the time to master their craft. This is no slap-dash effort, with excellent production, every member shines through as a talent. Track 5 ‘Manifest Humility’ is technical brilliance, with aspects of In Flames and Trivium creeping in, but even those bands would be head-banging in the wings as this band take the stage. You want idols? Check out Adversary – they are the future. Next time you’re in your local music shop, pick up a copy of this record. You will not be disappointed! I am tempted to get on a plane now and fly across the pond to see these guys live.