Being a Michigan native myself, I can see why the dudes of Battlecross channel such aggression within "Pursuit of Honor." Truth is, the hardships within Michigan's atriums can radically change one's outlook in a heartbeat: economic hardships are everywhere, crime continues to rise, overcrowding takes its parasitic toll; the list goes on and on. However, these self-described "blue-collar thrashers" shine light on a sense of overcoming and achievement that most of the world ignores when it comes to the Motorcity's insurrection, rising like a mechanical phoenix within Detroits gruff and gritty city limits. "Pursuit of Honor" takes a shot at the melodic thrash/death metal theme sharing similar attributes to The Absence, or perhaps an At The Gates follower baptized in a heavy tint of modern thrash with a little smidge of hardcore influence crowning every now and then. And you know, Battlecross is not the catalyst of modern metal, but there's something inspiring about "Pursuit of Honor." The vocals are harsh and brutal, the riffs typically thrashy and trashy yet sensationally melodic, and there's a degree of extreme percussion along with elaborate bass playing (including solos on the end of the bassist, which are definitely awesome), and all of it pretty much leads into Battlecross' crusade as one might expect from the melodic thrash/death metal label. Energy proves to be a key asset of Battlecross' blueprint though; the material wouldn't be as compelling or attractive if the group wasn't so caffeinated, as they clearly just jam and sound totally dominating in their own skins.
A grand number of the tracks follow the same postulate, but "Pursuit of Honor" usually avoids the common symptoms of modern metal cooked incorrectly, so nothing to complain about there. Occasionally the overt hardcore techniques emerge and pretty much throw off Battlecross' consistency with tepid instrumentality; especially throughout the knuckle-dragging "Breaking You" and a few of the other songs, which end up derailing the album's successful routine for the basic hardcore nutrients, featuring all the generic breakdowns and second-rate grooves you can think of. Not really my thing, I'm afraid.
However, "Pursuit of Honor" keeps the ample melodic thrash/death metal formula alive and well for the most part. While conforming to the basic standards of modern metal, Battlecross has at least liquidated the bland qualities of the status quo through stable musicianship and subtle hints of individualism rasping between the group's sharpened brutality and hostile attitude. "Pursuit of Honor" is an honest, volatile purge into malicious, rugged violence that makes you choke on your own teeth while grilling some savage, fun riffs and metallic punishment of a truly ravenous class. This may be a noteworthy experience if you have a soft spot for extreme music with a melodic edge and/or the modern side of metal's underground.