EP REVIEW: Under The Boot – Inhuman Nature

One of the most exciting trends that’s re-emerged over the last few years is the broadening of the hardcore scene, with its musicians involving themselves in genres like thrash, death metal, sometimes even black metal. It’s in this spirit INHUMAN NATURE have brought forth their latest EP Under The Boot, a short, sharp blast of hardcore-inflected thrash reminiscent of the almighty POWER TRIP while still retaining its own bite. 

At just three songs and 12 minutes, a prog opus this most definitely isn’t, and it’s all the better for it. With barely any running time, there’s not a second wasted as the band tear through riff after riff with barked vocals and pounding drums. The opening title track has SLAYER-like squalling guitars to start before accelerating to a frenetic pace. Time signatures chop and change on a dime, flitting seamlessly between grooving stomp and tearing full speed ahead. 

Ride The Apocalypse follows suit with a grooving, churning riff once more reminiscent of POWER TRIP if they’d really doubled down on their thrash elements. The rasping shouts are almost blackened, echoing early SKELETONWITCH. City Of The Dead closes out the EP, making up the bulk of the runtime at five and a half minutes and introducing more foreboding and menace through the opening motif. That soon moves into a chugging, groove-laden riff guaranteed to get necks moving and the track itself is the usual mix of breakneck pace, groove and snarling, sneering vocals. 

Where INHUMAN NATURE excel is in the sheer attitude Under The Boot exudes from its every pore; pissed off at the world and frothing at the mouth, it delivers a short burst of thrashing anger without letting its foot off the floor at any point. Ultimately, it’s what thrash should be – fast and aggressive and sure to leave jaws on the floor and heads spinning. 

Rating: 8/10

Under The Boot is set for release on February 11th via Church Road Records.

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