Rejoice, metal heads! Tourniquet is back with their seventh full-length studio album, which could possably be their heaviest as well. After their previous album, Crawl To China, several fans were disappointed with the lack of thrash that the Tourniquet trio was missing. But with this album, the fans got what they wanted, and more! They even gained more fans because of it (including this one).

What is believed by many to be the trio's best album ever, Microscopic View of a Telescopic Realm is filled with talented guitar licks, drum loops, and edgy lyrics with equally edgy vocals to go along with. I know some may want to stay back simply from the album cover itself, but I was lucky enough to come across it. But the cover actually isn't the only creepy part. The album is filled with strange song titles ("The Skeezix Dilemma Pt. 2 [The Improbable Testimony of Pipsipsewah]," and "Erratic Palpitations of the Human Spirit"). The entire album is filled with dark lyrics, vocals and instruments. And not a single song is under four minutes. Plus, "The Skeezix Dilemma..." is at least ten minutes long.

The real talent of the trio is showed in the album opener, "Besprinkled In Scarlet Horror." The song starts with a 25 second organ/guitar solo, before breaking out onto a metal rampage of electric guitars, fast drum loops, and thrashtastic vocals. The song's message practically attacks critics with beliefs that Tourniquet's music is devil worship, rather than being Christian. The song even ends with a soft little worship ballad, with a light, harmonizing flute in the background. The song is a fast-paced treat that will please any metal head, Christian or not. It shows off the talent of Easter (vocals), Kirpatrick (drums), and Guerra (guitars) at their best.

The entire album is nothing short of a masterpiece. While lighter music fans may find this to be too dark and ominous, others will have no problems with this legendary album.

Review date: 7/4/05, written by David Larkin for Jesusfreakhideout.com