HATCHET’S AWAITING EVIL IS ANOTHER SO-SO ENTRY TO THE THRASH REVIVAL CANON
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.
