Want to induce headbanging? Have your band suddenly and violently change tempo or rhythmic feel. It’s one of the oldest compositional tricks in the ‘extreme’ metal playbook; Slayer are masters of it. The gambit still works today, as Profane demonstrates. It’s rarely surprising when Svart Crown wrench their blackened death metal through one of these shifts, but every time they do, utter neck wreckage ensues. It helps that the riffs and production are so great, but ultimately, Profane succeeds because of its grasp on dynamic fundamentals. These Frenchmen beat Immolation at their own game this year. –Doug [LISTEN]