H.O.S.

Debut full-length album by Italian Thrash Metal band.
It almost feels like it was 1980's again, as Italian Thrashers H.O.S. (short for Harvester Of Sorrow) fire their first full-length load of bullets! Prior to the debut album, the band have released a couple of demos and seem to have been quite active in the live circuit in their homeland.
"The Beginning" includes ten songs (one being a intro) of old school Thrash Metal. Basically, H.O.S.'s one foot is firmly placed in the USA. Atrophy, Forbidden and Heathen are just a few names coming to mind when listening to this one, but certainly not Metallica, as the band's name might suggest. H.O.S. have a more rocking side too them, like "Road Madness" shows, even though the song is pure Thrash Metal anyways. However, Crossover is something their Thrash is devoid of. Kreator are a huge influence to these Italians. Some guitar soloing and riff writing is close to late 1980's/early 1990's Kreator. Generally, it comes as no surprise, that H.O.S. aren't quite as angry-sounding or jaw-dropping as those legendary bands. However, H.O.S. have still managed to pen some tasty riffage and songs, even though it's all surely more or less recycled. There's evil atmosphere in some of the songs, there are some fast blasters, and balls to the wall anger throughout the platter, so it won't get too boring.
If the music is an all right duplicate of the 80's Thrash Metal, also soundwise this is quite "back in the day". The band sound pretty tight, and that's because they have played quite a lot of live shows. The vocalist Dado's (also rhythm guitar) evil voice reminds a lot of Kreator's Mille Petrozza, especially "Coma of Souls" (1990) times. However, he utilizes snarling much further than Mille. The vocals are totally love or hate affair. He sounds like a man who has been drinking too much radioactive water.
This is a good attempt in old school Thrash for sure. It does not reach the heights of legendary albums, but that's almost the unbreakable law nowadays! So if you want some Mille-ish vocals on good enough songs, why not give it a try!!
Punishment 18 Records, 2011 (P18R 033). Made in Italy. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Intro 01:24
2. Fallout 04:02
3. Annihilation Of Society 02:47
4. Road Madness 03:48
5. The Haunt 04:21
6. No More Traitors 03:36
7. The Last Will 04:03
8. Ready To Fight 03:02
9. Earthquake 03:57
10. We Are H.O.S.! 03:31
Total playing time: 34:31