Tokyo Police Club, Shadows Fall October 9, 2007

They're cushioned with bumbling, pillow fight bass lines, crashing open hi-hat and good humored keyboards. This is the sound of Tokyo Police Club.

A dynamic blend of old-school heavy metal, death metal, hardcore and '80s thrash, Shadows Fall takes elements from each genre and revitalizes them, making them utterly contemporary. The Canadian sextet Three Inches of Blood evokes a throwback to heavy metal's youthful 1980s heyday. The band's Iron Maiden-like galloping riffs and solos are speeded up to thrash metal tempos, topped with "Dungeons & Dragons" styled lyrics and titles such as 'Destroy the Orcs' and 'Ride Darkhorse, Ride.' Their latest is 'Advance and Vanquish.'