Employing many of the same elements heard on A Vulgar Display Of Power and Far Beyond Driven, Montreal's A Perfect Murder is a band that shamelessly embraces and largely borrows from its influences. On their fourth full-length effort in just four years, War Of Aggression sees the Canadian quintet further pushing the groove-thrash sound made famous by long disbanded acts like Pantera and Exhorder. More than just a generic palm muted thrash rehash, however, War Of Aggression offers the occasional change up, giving the album a broader range of variety. Such is the case on songs like "Rapture" and "Within", where the band pays a visit to their ghosts of hardcore Christmas past with a few brief breakdowns, and "Label Me", which has a very familiar Black Label Society feel in some of the riffs and chorus sections. Without a doubt the most out of place of tracks, "Fortunate Son" is an acoustic piece that is somewhat reminiscent of older Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains.

War Of Aggression is far evolved from the original A Perfect Murder sound laid out on their first two releases, and a strong outing that appears to be their last, as they've recently announced that the band is no more. With so few acts playing this brand of metal, it would seem that the groove-thrash genre is as dead as Dimebag Darrell. Fortunately, technology has bestowed upon us the means to capture and cherish the music heard on albums like The Law, A Vulgar Display Of Power, and War Of Aggression far after the bands that created it are gone, and in a way allowing it to live on forever. Bottom line - Fans of Hatebreed, Lamb Of God, and of course Pantera should appreciate A Perfect Murder in what is sadly their final moment of triumph.