RSS Feed


HITTEN
First Strike With The Devil

No Remorse (2014)
Rating: 6.5/10

With cover art that is quick to hold high the traditional heavy metal banner, Spain’s Hitten are another relatively new act flying the flag when it comes to revival metal.

Immediately, like so many 80s copyists, Hitten strike the listener with a wave of galloping drums, driving guitars, forceful kicking bass-lines and vocals wrenched from the early 80s, but once again, despite the passion and the apparent power I’m rarely fazed by such a commotion.

Bands of this ilk are emerging from the darkness as if part of a zombie invasion; clad in tatty denim jackets, sporting tight jeans and with devil horns pointed to the sky, these countless number of ghouls are so desperate to resurrect a time they were probably never part of having been too young, and while it’s not their fault that they were born too late, the music they create in homage to Iron Maiden, Saxon, Angel witch, Grim Reaper, Judas Priest et al is just too tepid.

There is something so fleeting about Hitten on this debut full-length offering – the lack of weight is certainly a problem and the cracked vocal delivery of new vocalist Aitor Navarro is another. Sure, the music attempts to set the room alight but just doesn’t have the tenacity to succeed, and tracks such as ‘Demons’, ‘Evil Power’ and ‘Running Over Fire’, with their marrying of New Wave Of British Heavy Metal and tight thrash, just flit by like a fly being a mere nuisance to the ears.

I sense sincerity among the quintet, who are bolstered by the twin guitar attack of Dani Meseguer and Dani Argilés, but even the razor-sharp riffs and screeching solos seem to lack the punch one would expect from a dual assault. There are some nice melodies which may prompt you to mount your rusty motorcycle and take on down the road, but the youthful edge also suggests a naïvety as the likes of ‘Punished By Speed’ and ‘Stand & Fight’ both reek of the generic.

These bands rarely set out to do anything other than celebrate the power of heavy metal and for that I admire them, but when you’ve got a truck-load of acts across the world choosing the same well-worn path it’s going to be a case of only the strongest will survive. Judging by this slightly better than average album, Hitten may have a tough time in standing out from the denim-clad crowd.

With Sweden’s Enforcer showing a majority of bands how to replicate the past but inject high levels of passion, Hitten clearly have a lot to learn, but hopefully maturity will bring them greater rewards.

Neil Arnold

<< Back to Album & EP Reviews



Related Posts via Categories
Share