Napalm Records have a definite winner here with the debut from American thrash/death/metalcore band Hurtlocker, whose Fear in a Handful of Dust is as brutal and unrelenting as anything I've heard in a while. Despite all this aggression and brutality, the band manages to inject some melody into their songs, and the guitar riffs are technical and pummeling, yet highly memorable. Not an easy feat for a band of this caliber, but Hurtlocker manage to pull it off. Singer Grant Belcher has a voice that will peel the paint off your walls, sounding like a cross between Obituary's John Tardy and Lamb of God's Randy Blythe, and he fits perfectly alongside the lethal and murderous riffs of guitarist Tim Moe.
There's many tracks to recommend here, such as the mammoth stomp of "No One, Now What?", the blistering "Absolution", or the manic frenzy of "The End of an Age". The band even approaches Slayer/Lamb of God intensity on "I Don't Need You", a truly compelling mix of complex yet brutal metal. For the most part it's hard to classify these guys, as they mix some splendid 80's styled thrash along with plenty of hardcore and technical metal elements that make the metalcore tag not really just. And if you are a rhythm person, the insane work from bassist Dan Manzella and drummer Dan Ditella is truly mezmerizing throughout.
It's early, but 2006 is starting off with a bang, and Hurtlocker is responsible for the rumblings. Highly recommended for fans of Lamb of God, Slayer, Obituary, Hatebreed, Shadow's Fall, and Exodus.
Track Listing
1) Symptoms
2) Absoulution
3) Painted Red
4) I Am Everything ... Nothing
5) Goddamn Reflection
6) No One, Now What?
7) The End Of An Age
8) I Don't Need You
9) Lie To Me
10) Already Inside
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