Harlott - Origin - (9.5/10)
Published on April 18, 2014
Tracklist: |
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Genre:
ThrashLabel:
Punishment 18 RecordsPlaying Time:
39:49Country:
AustraliaYear:
2013/2014Website:
Visit pageWhile the Australian thrash scene has developed into something fairly intriguing as of late, I don’t think they truly had a ‘star’ in their ranks until I listened to the debut from Harlott. Origin is not an original kind of record as it most certainly wears its influences right up on its sleeves, but I’ll be damned if it’s not a well executed thrashing good time. It’s high speed, vicious, and has just enough of a modern style to make sure it’s not simply another ‘throwback’ record that rides on the coattails of yesteryear.
It’s quite fitting that while it’s a debut called Origin, that the record most certainly presents homage to some of the origins of the thrash genre while remaining fairly modern and fresh in its worship. For a solid comparison, one has to look no further than something of a cross between new Kreator with less harsh vocals and a penchant for bigger riffs than melodies. In fact, Harlott’s ridiculous amount of riffing is essentially what sells this album from beginning to end. With a nice crunchy tone, these Australians unleash tsunami waves of riffs with ridiculous thrash consistency. Twelve songs and I don’t skip a single one because of the riffing.
On top of that, the band has a knack for impeccable song writing. Diversity is not necessarily their main objective and outside of a melodic intro on “Hierophobia” or the rather groove oriented fist-pumping tempo of “Regression” the band most certainly sticks to that fast paced one-two punch of snarling vocals with a touch of melody and snap pacing. This is exactly what the band is successful at with some Teutonic influence in the chaotic drum work and spitting vocals and rarely did I want to hear them do anything outside of that.
For Harlott, Origin is a strong debut that makes a very large foundational statement. Australia is proving to be the breeding grounds for some of the best of the upcoming thrashers and Origin in the kind of record to make sure that all thrashers around the world hear them loud and clear. It’s not experimental. It’s not watered down. Origin is the definition of modern thrash. It’s vicious, catchy, and never misses.
Glad I passed this one onto you Matt. Everyone I know raves about it but I just can't get into it, sounds lust like Kreator but with zero memorable riffs/songs, 7/10.
On another note, how com ethe images never match when these things get posted to FB?
Josh you're on drugs! This album fucking rules.
What he said ^ m/
Brilliant!! – The Morgue Radio
No memorable riffs? Cos Hierophobia doesn't stick in your head, or origins opening riff
Doesn't stick in your head, what about INFERNAL MASSACRE?! Hahah
And you call yourself a Kreator fan? Lol
Best thrash album of 2014 by far in the world lol I love seeing them live all the time.
I wish I could see them live. Australia has a sick scene right now. They need to all band together and come tour the US. Harlott, Hidden Intent, Mason. I would kill for that tour.
Hey everybody, just thought I'd point out that the point of my comment was not that the album was shit, it was that it didn't click with me and, rather than reviewing it myself as I had originally intended, I'm glad I passed it on to Matt, who I knew would dig it, so he could review it and do it supposable justice.
As for my personal evaluation of the record, I seem to be missing something because everyone else digs it and it just doesn't do anything for me. I've never seen the band live but I've tried to listen to the album a bunch and I just get bored. I felt much the same about the Mason album, which I reviewed last year (and Matt agreed with me on that one if I recall correctly). I actually recommended getting this album instead at the end of the review. So there you go.
Mason review (sorry guys): http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=6&id=20469
And Matt, if you're in the market for Aussie thrash then I cannot recommend Barbed Wire Metal by Elm Street and The Thrashening by In Malice's Wake enough, the later of which I honestly believe to be the best thrash metal album of about the last ten years or so (Enemy Of God came out in 2005, so not quite, but you get the jist).