Facedown Records seems to have been releasing a lot of albums lately, and their subsidiary Strike First Records has a new act in town. Well, they may be new to our ears, but Through Solace has been making metal over in the UK since 2005. Some of the greatest rock music ever made (such as the Beatles and Led Zeppelin) has come out of the UK, so what can be said for the fellow European's new release?

The album blasts off with a vengeance, delivering metalcore in the way that we've all come to love – hard riffs, intense drumming, and powerful screams. However, most of the tracks on The World On Standby will blend within the entire album, offering nothing more than a good message delivered during the mosh pit. The sound at times can become monotonous or repetitive and you may not be sure exactly where one song ends and the next begins.

That being said, The World On Standby still isn't completely the same throughout. "Through These Years" offers a melodic chorus to accompany the chants and screams, while "You Were My World" attempts to slow the album down even more. "Almost" displays a vast guitar-playing ability, and "A Change Of Heart" is full of meaningful lyrics like, "our paths are lit by signals, but will they guide our hearts?"

In conclusion, this is not a bad album to listen to, but if you're looking for something new and/or different for your metal collection, this will not suit you. But if want to hear some hardcore Godly screams coupled with hard riffs, then you may want to take a trip overseas to see Through Solace touring this Summer in the UK.

- Review date: 5/5/09, written by Kevin Hoskins of Jesusfreakhideout.com