HATCHET’S AWAITING EVIL IS ANOTHER SO-SO ENTRY TO THE THRASH REVIVAL CANON
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008 at 11:05am by Vince Neilstein
While I’m not sure I agree with Iann Robinson’s claim that Awaiting Evil is the album Metallica would have written if Cliff Burton hadn’t died, one thing is for sure about Hatchet; these dudes sure do love early Metallica. Like the countless other young bands currently indulging in the thrash revival, Hatchet go out of their way to ape their ’80s Bay Area heroes in nearly every way, from the style of playing to the production to the cut-off Slayer and Exodus t-shirts, leather jackets and backwards hats they don in their liner note photos. Not that this is such a terrible thing. Like most of the aforementioned thrash revivalists, Hatchet too do a fine job of recreating the sound of their idols, but ultimately I’m left wondering what about this band is special and different from all the other bands currently imitating their thrash forefathers.
The lads of Hatchet are certainly talented enough musicians. Julz Ramos and Sterling Bailey’s guitar tone is crisp and thrashy with tons o’ high end, the riffing is tight, and they do some impressive lead work that’s equal parts Kirk Hammet and Kerry King, occasionally throwing in some Maiden-esque twin leads. The songs follow a familiar formula; guitar intro, double-time verse, evil sounding chorus, repeat; insert fast, meandering solo with Floyd Rose dive-bombs a-plenty, chorus, main riff, out. Marcus Kirchen’s vocal delivery calls to mind the best aspects of Joey Belladonna — the barked, staccato, almost rap-like delivery — but thankfully leaves out (for the most part) the shrieky high notes that make Belladonna-era Anthrax intolerable to me.
After a couple of thorough listens of this album I’m still left wondering what exactly Hatchet have added to the thrash revival lexicon or the greater metal scene as a whole. Awaiting Evil is certainly a competent chapter full of some of the best thrash vocabulary from all eras; but I’m still wondering what’s so special about this band above the rest of the class of 2007/2008 pack.
-VN
(two and a half out of five horns)
Awaiting Evil is out now on Metal Blade Records.
Competently generic, perhaps?
I really enjoyed it, myself. Yeah, so it’s a re-hash – what isn’t these days? Just gotta roll with those postmodern punches.
And at least they put some spark into it, unlike Kataklysm. Guess it’s a case of different strokes for different folks, though. *shrugs*
It is one thing to borrow from thrash’s style and attitude. But this band is so derivative that I feel I can place every riff they use in my CD collection. For example, Sealed Fate has a riff from Rest in Pain from Sepultura’s Schizophrenia, maybe a Reign in Blood riff or two, a Sadus riff, an old Testament lick…
I guess why should I buy this album when I already bought all these riffs as played by the original bands years ago.
I don’t care for this band. Most of the bands here in the Bay Area, which is all thrash metal, are all about style over substance. Maybe because they’re so young. I’m a little suprised that they ever got signed. They have nothing live.
As for “bringing back thrash”, there are some choice bands that are putting a spin on it, but I doubt it will be a big thing.
I finally got around to listening to this after picking it up just from Ian Robinson’s review. It’s nothing I haven’t heard before, and I did not care for the vocals at all. I agree almost completely with Vince on this.
picked up the album (which totally rocks) after seeing them live (which totally rocked!). their sound is solid thrash from 20 years ago and they do it well. can’t wait to see how they develop musically.
KICK ASS! and what does make them special from other bands “imitating their forefathers” nothing realy its just good to see bands still can be true and say fuck off to the labels and do it the right way rather then bending over and taking it in the ass as allmost every american band do. HAIL HATCHET /../
Hey, i am glad i came across your site… keep it up!!!!
Come on all you posers! These guys are great!Old school thrash the way it was made to be done. I saw them in concert in Phoenix and the pit was killer. I agree its nothing new, but it beats the hell out of Metallica, whoes the biggest sell out since Judas sold out christ!