HATCHET

Awaiting Evil

Metal Blade
rating icon 6 / 10

Track listing:

01. Darkening Skies
02. Frailty Of The Flesh
03. Sealed Fate
04. Frozen Hell
05. Attack Imminent
06. Morlocks Tomb
07. Storm The Gates
08. The Dead Will March
09. Awaiting Evil


It is interesting to hear the kind of old school thrash that was a staple of the '80s Metal Blade catalogue coming back around and being released on albums in 2008. As we're in the midst of a major thrash resurgence, it comes as no surprise to hear bands like FUELED BY FIRE and, in the case of this review, the Bay Area's HATCHET finding their way onto the label roster. These days virtually every major metal label has been snapping up bullet-belted, leather clad acts like it's going out of style (again). The up side is that many of these groups deliver the goods in a big way, eschewing any 'core influences and updated sounds in favor of chainsaw riffs, evil attitude, and larger than life artwork. The problem is that it appears the talent pool is getting increasingly shallow. HATCHET's "Awaiting Evil" is certainly not a bottom of the barrel release by any stretch of the imagination, but one can hear a bit of the mundane creeping in.

Fortunately, there is a fair amount of thrashing fire to be found on "Awaiting Evil" and the boys has tapped into that all-important, but often botched, feeling of the glory days and bring with it some impressive chops. The songwriting leaves something to be desired though, as there are very few songs that really reach up and grab the listener. In fact, the formula becomes a little too repetitive as one makes his through the album. Aside from instrumental opener "Darkening Skies", what you get are fast gallops, '80s guitar crunch, backing shouts, and vocal patterns from Marcus Kirchen that don't vary a whole hell of a lot. However, where the album really shines is when the guitar solos rip through the air; there are some seriously shredding leads from Julian Ramos going on here, played with passion and skill, even through a rather compressed sounding mix.

Most of "Awaiting Evil" stays clear of the mediocre, but one is left wondering whether HATCHET's (early) SLAYER-derived thrash, crossed with a dash NWOBHM guitar work, would sound considerably better if released a couple of years go. As the market floods, it becomes increasingly difficult to make a mark. My qualifications notwithstanding, "Awaiting Evil" still shows that there is life left in the movement, even though several of the band's contemporaries are pulling it off in more convincing fashion.

Author:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • reddit
  • email

Comments Disclaimer And Information

BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. The comments reside on Facebook servers and are not stored on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. To report spam or any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, use the "Report to Facebook" and "Mark as spam" links that appear next to the comments themselves. To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends).