HATCHET - Dawn of the End

The new wave of thrash has already crashed upon the shore and left us with nothing but a ripple, and only the pompous press releases of some record labels are trying to stir up. In fact, this new wave of thrash wasn’t that much, to be honest: a lot of people trying to look interesting and revive, they said, the spirit of thrash metal. Well, Hatchet don’t try, Hatchet do it.

Hatchet are from the very San Francisco that gave birth to American thrash metal. This is most likely why they are so natural and convincing with their approach. They’re not pushed by a big label, so they focus on music, not image. They don’t try with all their power to pose as great thrashers, they just are.

Riffs like those on Dawn of the Dead I haven’t heard in quite a while. Their unstoppable energy brings to mind a metallic steamroller, but they are at the same time so ingeniously crafted that you couldn’t be bored after listening to it 10 times in a row. Hatchet have found the perfect balance between force and complexity, without giving the impression that they spent too much time looking for it. They complicate their songs exactly as much as they should, they let them run as much as they need. Solos are not too long, not too short, not too similar with Mustaine’s, or Andy Laroque’s, but just a bit of each. As surprisingly diverse and undisputedly opportune are the drum parts, riffs remain the stars of this album, and this is how it should be, since we’re talking about thrash, right?

I do have a few issues with Julz Ramos’ barking-shouting voice, which I find lacking in personality, and with the choruses that fail to create a memorable impact. Maybe it’s because the riffs are too good. Still, it doesn’t matter, nothing can ruin my joy of letting myself be thrashed once more by this album of the hatchet-wielders from San Francisco.

Klawz Nota: 9