Lineup changes are not uncommon in the world; some and bands can be revolving doors. Changing personnel has been known to hurt some bands creatively, but -- one of Sweden's finest outfits -- has a way of emerging unscathed after personnel changes. A case in point is , which finds them unveiling yet another lineup. Singer and bassist are gone; this time, the participants are a returning on bass, (also known as of fame) on lead vocals, founder on guitar, and on drums. Perhaps some fans will miss , but / certainly shows himself to a be a compelling addition to the band -- and one of the things that makes his performances so compelling is a lack of irony. There have been plenty of , , and bands that were full of irony; , for example, were masters of sick humor. But and everyone else in this lineup bring a dead-serious outlook to morbid, disturbing tracks like Whether they are blasting listeners at lightning speed or favoring a medium tempo, never sounds tongue in cheek and never loses its moodiness; this 45-minute CD is as moody and darkly atmospheric as it is loud, heavy, and intense. are not part of the melodic style known as ; the Swedish foursome can be ferocious, and they make no bones about it. But in their own harsh, nasty way, do have a sense of craftsmanship -- and on , lineup changes don't prevent them from maintaining their excellence. ~ Alex Henderson