Back Breaker is their third full-length CD, and their best. The Showdown plays metalcore mixed with southern metal, and have added more thrash to this CD. The songs are heavier and more intense than on their last album, but still have plenty of good melodies and hooks. There are no traces of modern rock here, it's all metal.
Thick riffs and breakdowns combined with thrash and groovy southern metal influences give The Showdown a distinctive sound. Vocalist David Bunton gives a strong performance, going from growls to yells to melodic singing, and doing them all well. There are also some hardcore style gang background vocals on some of the tracks.
This is a concept album, with the subject matter being Greek mythology. Gods and goddesses including Aphrodite, Achilles and Prometheus are in all the song titles. It's an interesting choice of subject matter for a Christian band.
The Showdown continue to grow and improve, and with Back Breaker they showcase their best songwriting and musicianship to date.
(released August 19, 2008 on Solid State Records)
