The rules are simple: earn points if you act stupid, and Pharaoh slam-dunks right from conception. As predictable grooves and sleep-inducing textures intoxicate “Speak to Me,” you can see the band slowly earning Redundapoints from things that start simple, stay simple, and end simple. Every musical pattern parks on bland pastures that encourage generic riffs usually stuck in mid-paced patterns, unmemorable percussion, unneeded harmonies digging everything even deeper, and solos that would have done Be Gone better if they weren’t used. Truth being told, all the material here is REALLY unoriginal at best, albeit a passable riff every twenty minutes or so, but still nothing screaming of independence. In other words, it is about as entertaining as a toad trying to decide whether it should nosedive into a pond or continue hobbling down a sidewalk.

Come on up Timmy Aymar; it is time to spin the wheel. Sure you did wonders with Chuck Schuldiner in Control Denied, and as the limelight overshadows those past glories, you are left dragging Be Gone all by yourself. Poor Timmy! As a matter of fact, this talented singer performs rather enjoyably when times seem tough; however, all that weight is too much to handle. Time and time again, we see our good friend struggling with these extra loads as he desperately tears his larynx in hopes of saving Pharaoh’s failing effort, yet nothing can repair the body when its spine is torn out, right? Congrats to Tim for keeping his decency, but shame on the other gentlemen responsible for brings this whole record six feet under.