It's always hard to write reviews for instrumental metal records. Because it is instrumental, all the players are (usually) quite skilled with their instruments, and have a decent grasp of compositions and songwriting in general. It's the only way to write an instrumental record, otherwise it will stink like my dead cat that I just found underneath a sofa. Enter 3HM " title="Search for 3HM ">3HM (Three Headed Monster), founded in 2001 in the state of Massachusetts.

Instrumental-metal usually splits into two directions: A complete shred-fest with an unlimited amount of guitar solos, or well thought out songs that hint at the best instrumental parts of Metallica, Iron Maiden and Megadeth. 3HM falls into that second category: Tracks like 'Bitter End' actually remind me of Metallica's "Welcome Home Sanitarium", sans vocals. Guitar tandem Chris Kessaris and Chris Ceechini probably own every thrash metal record from the 80s and 90s and that shows in the playing. I do have to say that some of the songs tend to sound alike: the combination of acoustic intro - melodic guitar riffs - acoustic passage - melodic guitar riffs does mesh together if it get's repeated throughout a few songs.

In the end I have to say that this is a (very) solid record but I think I won't spin it often. The level of musicianship is high, but not that far out that it could keep my ears busy throughout the 40 minutes. 

The songs tend to incorporate typical songwriting structures. And my educated mind knows that a song is a piece of music that has vocals. If these guys had a singer, it would be a damn good metal record. Now it are songs that need vocals.