[4/10] Tagged as "modern metal," Artas incorporates thrash, death, metalcore and various other metal influences into a sound that's certainly heavy, but often very unmemorable. In bouncing around between various genres, the band stands to alienate a great deal of metal fans. Most death metal purists won't go for the metalcore sound and to a lesser extent, vice-versa. During tracks such as "Fick Dass Fett" and "The Healing," it sounds like the band is really struggling to find its identity. Because of this, it makes the album on the whole a difficult proposition.

Not that there's no glimmer of brilliance on The Healing. Leadoff cut "Barbossa" is for the most part, a solid thrasher with positively pummeling double-kick action courtesy of the band's drummer Chris. A good chorus strengthens the cut, leading the way into a turnaround that shifts from a deep power-groove to all-out chaos. "Bastardo" also works as a middle-class metalcore jaunt with thrashin' tendencies. Lyrically, this track is fairly cool as well. Check the six-foot thick breakdown that morphs into a hair-whipping chug as Hannes puts on a menacing growl. "From Dirt We'll Rise" is a strong track with tasty bass licks courtesy of the band's four-stringer Radek.

The inclusion of a Coolio cover, "Gangsta's Paradise" is almost laughable, except that it sounds like Artas is serious about playing it. Having said that, if bad thrash covers of bad rap songs flies under the banner of modern metal, maybe it's time to retreat into a cave with the music library of yesteryear. It's a silly inclusion and it's difficult to understand how the group or for that matter, the label would think it a good idea to place the track so high in the lineup. As an afterthought, at the end of the record, it may have been easier to stomach.

While Artas is making a sincere attempt at finding its own sound, a bit of refinement and focus is in order before this band is going to make very much of an impact.

www.myspace.com/artasmetal