EP REVIEW: The Purpose Is Cruelty – Hellevate
Line-up changes are always like marmite. You never know what the reaction is going to be from fans and the general public. Since their formation in the late 2000s, HELLEVATE have been through several line-up changes. Thankfully, they’ve hit the jackpot with the addition of new vocalist Robert Browne, who joins founding guitarist Dan Whitmer alongside Zack Burke, Joshua Cole and RJ Whitmer. Their new EP The Purpose Is Cruelty is the first music from the band since the release of their 2018 and 2019 singles Last Of The Fell and Krampusnacht.
The EP opens with the title track, which starts off with an eerie synthesiser and a female voice speaking about worshipping gods. This is before the heaviest guitar riff is unleashed, almost from the gates of Hell itself. The drumming is the most impressive thing, driving the song along at a fast pace. The vocals are also unique, with the verses being almost rapped and the choruses screamed. It is a stunning opening to a very unique EP.
The rest of the EP goes along at an extremely fast pace, as if it is hurtling down an open country road. Dagon continues the successful formula of the previous song, with the addition of guttural vocals, and Buried Under Mistakes emphasises the guitars a lot more. A lot of thrash metal can be quite derivative, so it is a breath of fresh air to hear a new spin on the genre.
HELLEVATE work extremely well together as a band, even with the new members. However, despite the EP only comprising five tracks, a lot of the runtimes are extremely long; fourth track Die Or Be Killed hits almost six minutes and it does drag the pacing down a little, as does closer (No) Further Action Is Required, which is almost six and a half minutes long. In comparison, the previous songs always made themselves at home in between the four and five-minute mark. However, despite the final two songs dragging on for a little too long, the general pacing of the EP works so well, and the band have proven that you can make thrash metal interesting and unique.
Overall, The Purpose Is Cruelty is a fantastic EP that gives thrash metal the much-needed facelift it deserves. Despite the final two songs dragging a little, HELLEVATE are at the top of their game. The EP is full of exciting new songs, and generally has a fantastic pacing. This is alongside a production that gives all the members a chance to show off their talent. Whether you’re a fan of thrash metal or new to the genre, this EP is definitely worth a listen.
Rating: 8/10
The Purpose Is Cruelty is set for release on January 14th via self-release.
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