Death Valley Driver – Choke The River (Diminished Fifth Records)

In listening to the debut effort by PEI’s Death Valley Driver, it is clear that this is a band not afraid to wear their influences on their sleeves. Bringing together sludge metal with aspects of thrash and more heaviness, vocalist Dan Hodgson sounds like a man possessed at times but anchors the group’s tight, technically-oriented songs extremely well. Highlights worth checking out include Mothsblood, Lambs In The Wolfskin, Choke The River With Your Dead and Heavy Lies The Crown. There is little question that Death Valley Driver are destined to be an East Coast favourite in years to come; they seem to have all the right elements in place. If you are a metal fan, do yourself a favor and support some home grown talent.