Sorry to say but this is one of those mishmash metal albums that attempts a definitive hybrid of extreme styles without producing anything distinctive or notable. Coventry's Fume can't be faulted where enthusiasm or energy are concerned - they've got both in abundance - but boy do they lack direction. Sure they are heavy, even brutal at times, but while nothing on 'A History....' makes the listener reach for the stop buton, thers nothing that absolutely demands a second listen.There are also some unpleasant Nu-Metal elements at play that do the band few favours - the grunt rapping on 'Wings of Vengeance' for example is very much surplus to requirements. Elsewhere theres mid tempo sludge, unconvincing blastbeats, Thrash riffage and duel guitar harmonies chucked into the mix with little concern wether they actually fit the song in question. For all Fumes shortcomings it's worth bearing in mind that they are a young band and this is their debut release. Hopefully by their next effort they'll have come closer to discovering exactly what it is they are trying to be.

5/10 Joe Stannard