Debut EP Pre-Meditated from Canada metal stalwarts TripleMurder is an aggressive, yet at times melodic release that will appeal to fans of the metal from the 2000s. Its mix of the post-thrash, groove laden riffs of Pantera/Lamb of God with the melodic deathcore reminiscent of The Black Dahlia Murder, makes for a ruckus atmosphere that when it pays off – is ultimately savage. The Canadians are not afraid to wear their influences on their chest, but among many pull-off riff and breakdown sections, Pre-Meditated has some stand-out moments that warrant it a listen. ‘Sacrifice’ begins with a riff-heavy and fairly catchy section that uses some great vocal delivery to really make it pop. The solos on ‘Eyes of Judgement’ ‘Ready to Bleed’ and ‘Crawl’ are by no means over-indulgent shred fests either, rather they complement the musical talent on this record. Solos are of course not as popular in modern metal as they once were, and this provides a pleasant return to the melodic compliments of earlier metal albums. Mike Eron’s vocals certainly helps to elevate the entire EP too, by adding some extra brutality to the mix. There is a great mix of screams and gutturals on this record, with a good amount of clarity in their delivery. This is a band that are full of energy, which has been channelled into Pre-Meditated at full force. TripleMurder’s independent stance has to be credited here too, and you’d like to think that going forward: if the Canadian’s manage to master their proficiency within this raw sound – we could be in for something special. There is a lot to be said about the collection of riffs, melodies and solos on this Pre-Meditated,and at times it comes together to really satisfy the ears. If anything, listeners should be excited about the things to come from TripleMurder who have shown that it may be time to bask in the warmth of a late 90s/mid 2000s revival. Score: 6/10 Facebook:/Triple.redrum