Pro-Pain’s previous effort “No End In Sight” was their nadir and the wish on that review was to call it quits. All they’d achieved until the millennium was destroyed gradually and ended up as today’s metalcore ruins. Rob Barrett’s (Cannibal Corpse / Malevolent Creation) assistance on that album’s best track (Phoenix Rising) was more than luck. However, Gary Meskil & Tom Klimchuck don’t want to go home yet and they present their thirteenth studio album.

“Absolute Power” is perfectly, as always, produced and shows the band improved. Rick Halverson has filled most of the tracks with unstoppable double-bass drumming which, combined with thrash riffs, offers some explosive moments (listen to Unrestrained, Hate Coalition, Stand My Ground). They’d rather use some choir ‘clean’ vocals than the ‘new american’ typical style of their previous albums so their strength remains in place. Stuff you get from this CD is modern, crossover songs with memorable choruses, some great, groovy moments and wonderful drumming in a thrash environment. Schmier’s collaboration on “Stand My Ground” confirms this image.

On the other hand the album neither impresses nor is innovative for the hardcore / metal crossover (with shots of rock ‘n’ roll) while most of the material might become divertive. Thumbs go up but by no means we will go bananas like we did with their 90s work. When you reach the bottom the only way is upwards; the question is if you can reach the top again.