Cedarville, Ohio post-hardcore quintet
Wolves at the Gate return with their second LP of crushing, aggro Christian metal. Following up their 2012 debut
Captors,
VxV (pronounced Five by Five) expands on their massive sound with tighter playing and a slightly glossier production treatment. Opening track "Wake Up" features a haunting, atmospheric, spoken word intro by Baptist preacher John Piper before launching into singer
Nick Detty's first throaty chorus. It's a theme that's repeated again on closer "The Father's Bargain," while in between, the album is a mix of complex metal riffage and taut, steel-trap tension that drives their hefty tales of worship. The push and pull between
Detty's shredding screams and guitarist
Steve Cobucci's smoother counter vocals colors many of the album's strongest tracks like "Dust to Dust" and "East to West." It's a strong sophomore set from this promising group.