Hellevate – The Purpose is Cruelty EP
Hellevate – The Purpose is Cruelty EP
Self-Released
Release Date: 14/01/2023
Running Time: 27:33
Review by Victor Augusto
9/10
Here we are to salute 2023! Like all beginnings of a new year, we stay tuned to tons of best albums lists from the previous year, but at the same time, we also have time to get surprised by the first releases that have already arrived in January. The American Thrash band Hellevate is one case of bands that were like Formula 1 cars lined up on the first row, just waiting for the red lights to turn off to speed up and kick new asses around the globe. And they could kick a new ass which is mine here in Brazil!
Before we talk about the album itself, there are two things that I would like to mention. One is the fact that I am reviewing a band with 16 years of experience that has toured and released albums in a good frequency. It makes my expectations high, because it shows a band that knows exactly how they want to sound. The second detail is also about my expectations when I have a Thrash band from the USA, because I am a big fan of the early Thrash from America. So let’s talk about what really matters, which is music.
After a short narration, the title track pleased us with a very well-arranged guitar and I immediately could notice all influences from the masters of Thrash Metal in Hellevate’s music, especially the sound of their compatriot’s bands. Of course, they had it as reference, because there are a few interesting details that are worth a mention. First, I could notice a lower tune on the guitars which opened space to a bit of slower cadence for the music. As a consequence, the sound of the drums turned groovier and got a bit slower too, but it was good to make all the heaviness easier to digest.
The second track ‘Dagon’ appears a bit faster and here is the time for the vocalist to show good clean voices alongside his aggressive screamed vocal style. Again, the heaviness of the guitar is quite interesting. It made me feel like the band added a bit of New Metal elements over the pure Thrash Metal as we know, without fleeing from their main style. We still have good solos that suddenly change from one guitarist to another as we hear in many classic Thrash bands with 2 guitars.
So far, the songs tend to keep the same rhythm, without many variations, but in ‘Buried Under Mistakes’, Hellevate changes to a very Death Angel style, adding double bass, more melodic vocals on the chorus and good changes on the song structure, something very common for Thrash bands. It also carries great solos that made the best and the most complete song from this EP, for me. ‘Die or Be Killed’ goes the exact same way and ‘(No) Further Action is Required’ finishes the album in a great style.
“The Purpose is Cruelty” shows what a good album must have, which is a music that goes straight to the point. The compositions are very well thought and carry the best of the Thrash elements. At the same time, they bring details different from that pattern, what made them not slaves of only one genre. Now it is just wait and see what these guys will conquer while touring to spread their music.
Good luck to them and congratulations!
‘The Purpose Is Cruelty’ Official Lyric Video
TRACKLISTING:
01. The Purpose is Cruelty
02. Dagon
03. Buried Under Mistakes
04. Die or Be Killed
05. (No) Further Action is Required
LINE-UP:
Robert Browne – Vocals
Joshua Cole – Guitar
Dan Whitmer – Guitar
Zack Burke – Bass
RJ Whitmer – Drums
LINKS:
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