ROCKET REVIEW : HOSTILITY – “Uncompromised” (CD/LP)

The album’s title ‘Uncompromised’ certainly sums up what the listener is in store for with this Northern California metal band’s debut release off The Pen/Voltaic Records label. The first track, “Without A Chance,” shoots straight out the gate with a clearcut mission to knock you out with banshee howl vocals, an epic guitar sound and a bludgeoning rhythm section. Track two is one of my immediate favorites, entitled “None For All,” spitting out pissed off lyrics: “Sacrifice is strength. Unity through pain. Past the point of pride.” Lead guitarist, Tony Vorrises is obviously a direct graduate of Dimebag’s school of harmonic squeals and thunder riffs. This dude can play. Track three, “Death As Leverage,” starts out with lead singer Greg Haran yelling ‘Fuck’ and then launches off into one of the more acrobatic vocal performances I’ve ever heard.

The middle section change to a half-time groove is very effective in getting one to start thinking about moshing in place. The guitar sound from Vorrises on this one is simply brutal and unlike much of what you’re ever going to hear from watered down pop metal bands of today. Track number four “Common Ground’ lets all the competition know where these guys are coming from with: “Every inch you took, we’re taking back. Ready to explode. Respect deserved but never shown.” Haran’s vocals on this song sound very death metal inspired for sure but this guy is pretty much the proto-typical growler anyway. A true talent. Track number five, “Liquid Chaos,” starts off with a slow, tripped out, effect-heavy riff that pulls you into one of the craziest sounding opening screams ever and simply pummels you with its heaviness. Track six, “Conditioned To Fail,” does not lack any of the intensity from the songs before it, but actually picks it up a level. “You’ll never make it, that is all I hear them keep saying. Fuck you, fuck that, come on – bring it.” The band’s dire thirst for shooting to the top of the metal heap has easily been achieved with this great first work. It is hands down one of the baddest metal songs I’ve heard since anything off of Super Joint Ritual’s last two albums.

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