Ordeal is a Belgian band that was formed already in 1991, yet I have had never heard of them before. The promo-sheet was quite promising: “Influenced by bands like MORBID ANGEL, BOLT THROWER and MALEVOLENT CREATION”. And well, fans of these hordes will find ORDEAL comfortable as well. The main-sound is powerful (even if the guitars could be a bit more crushing), the song-material is okay (here and there you can foresee the next minutes, a bit boring for me) and I think the guys behind their instruments are skilled. Nevertheless, in my subjective opinion they lack of real breathtaking moments or real brutal atmospheres. In the end, it is nothing out of the ordinary. Ordinary, a thing that you cannot say about the artwork, as Kris Verwimp again proofed his skills, great artwork! www.shiver-records.com