Hazzerd
Misleading Evil
Album review by Allyson Kingsley music journalist with Metal Coffee/Metal Moose
Thrash metal has always been my cup of tea among all the genres. After all, my generation grew up listening to the thrash masters- Slayer, Exodus, Overkill, Testament, etc ad infinitum. Today I see a resurgence of thrash in bands such as Havok or Jungle Rot. We have bands that add a bit of progressive to their version of thrash like Revocation. From Calgary, Alberta, Canadian metallers Hazzerd keeps the thrash metal flame glowing bright with Misleading Evil. The musicians are Dylan Westendorp (drums/lead vocals), Brendan Malycky (guitarist/backing vocals), Toryin Schadlich (guitarist/backing vocals) and David Sprague (bassist/backing vocals).
Throughout Misleading Evil you will hear extended instrumental passages that range from the melodic and restrained to the classically tinged thrash and into the mighty and dramatic modern day metal. Check out the title track's transitions and patterns that grabs your attention like the cliffhanger of a great movie. There are molten metal songs laced with scathing riffs, vitriolic vocals and a razor sharp production that makes every riff sound like the chops of a hatchet."The Tendencies of a Madman" has everything you love- crisp kickass drumming, venomous guitar hooks, a crunching bass foundation and snake biting vocals. Hazzerd displays a degree of animosity you can feel with each rhythm. "Under the Influence " is my choice pick as it is as pit inducing as early Overkill, full of determination and motivation and best of all, pure speed. I also loved the fiesty "Apocalypse Dawn" that evokes the riff styles of Slayer or Exodus slitting your throat with its sharp precision and metronomic drum violence. Misleading Evil is purely centered on as many gashing riffs it can muster and is an outright murderous thrash album. I am looking forward to their upcoming release Delirium in late January.
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