Unearth's third full-length album, III: In the Eyes of Fire, is a natural progression from 2004's metallic masterpiece, The Oncoming Storm — and if that storm has come and passed, III represents something even more destructive. Awash with brutish melodies from start to finish, nearly the entire album is composed of instant mosh anthems heavy enough to anchor an aircraft carrier. This is easily a front-running candidate for metal album of year.

The talent within the band is obvious. Guitarists Ken Susi and Buz McGrath intertwine guitar runs that are as creative as they are powerful, while Trevor Phipps's vocals deliver an underlying sense of urgency that makes each song stand out like a primal battle cry.

Tracks like "Sanctity in Brothers," lead single "Giles," "Impostors Kingdom," "March of the Mutes" and "So It Goes" lead the pack while the addictive, breakneck intro to "This Time Was Mine" could induce headbanging in your grandmother — posthumously. Even the instrumental set-closer with its piano intermezzo, "Big Bear and the Hour of Chaos," is a major force on an album whose sum is far greater than its parts.

Here's a challenge: Lock yourself in a room, crank both your air conditioner and this album up to 10 and see if you can emerge without being drenched in sweat.

Track listing:

01. This Glorious Nightmare
02. Giles
03. March of the Mutes
04. Sanctity in Brothers
05. The Devil Has Risen
06. This Time Was Mine
07. Unstoppable
08. So It Goes
09. Impostors Kingdom
10. Bled Dry
11. Big Bear and the Hour of Chaos

Out Now:
III: In the Eyes of Fire

Unearth official site