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HATCHET
Dying To Exist
Combat Records, 2018

What iteration of Thrash are we at? Is anyone counting? Or are we too busy with riffs and chicken beats and white sneakers with the tongues sticking out? Who the hell cares? HATCHET are back. Your argument is invalid.

Thrashing like maniacs for a little better than ten years, HATCHET hail from the hallowed Bay Area (I shouldn’t have to explain and I won’t) and play the sort of hyper-slick nouveau thrash that started to rear its head in about 2010, heavy on riffs stacked on riffs stacked on riffs and a rhythm section tighter than a lock at Fort Knox, with triplets approximately forever. Oh, and those slightly annoying high pitched vocals. Yeah, HATCHET is definitely a Thrash band, bordering at times on crossover but never actually getting there.

Taking cues from every band you care to name in the style, HATCHET keep things fresh and engaging without succumbing to mere pedantic exercise. Lyrically, the band is spot on, taking serious issues and marrying them to a sound that is fresh, engaging and ultimately, fun. And that’s what it’s all about isn’t it?

Dying To Exist is a fun ride to be sure, and one worth at least one spin on your media player of choice. I bet they’re great live.

3.0 Out Of 5.0