"Sumerlands builds upon the pre-thrash days, when metal hadn't absorbed hardcore into its DNA, and yet was still exiting the '70s with lightspeed ... Aging gracefully is nearly impossible: Metallica's relevance, for example, has long outpaced their ability to recreate their classics live. Sumerlands isn't a record for old fans looking to relive their youth, nor is it a placeholder for younger fans with knowledge gaps. It's an exceptional record, and the barrier to entry isn't age. It's whether you can surrender yourself to Rizk's charm as the new American Heavy Metal Master".