THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: hitten

HITTEN – When Passion Lasts

December 19, 2023 /

Hitten’s last album was killer and I felt somewhat guilty that I hadn’t heard of them before. I mean, the band have been releasing albums since 2014 so what have I been doing missing them for nearly ten years? Thank god for Bandcamp, and the “you may also like this “ recommendations. It must be so frustrating being a band in this wired in age as there is SO much music out there and you are basically on your own.

This is their fifth album and I’m pleased to report it’s just as good as its predecessor. Killer metal played with passion and plenty of melody, and the riff is still king. I reviewed an album by Niagara the other day who are also Spanish, and I forget to mention Hitten when I said I didn’t know of many Spanish bands. How could I have forgot these guys!?

I love all of this album and highlights for me are album opener Prelude To Passion, which is how you should start an album (with a bang), plus it has a great hook and chorus. As well, Unholy Games has a great groove and some killer guitar. There is also my favourite tune Dark Stalker, which has a great intro, a killer riff, and double kicks pounding away, it actually reminds of Iron Maiden at times with the twin guitar.

The whole record is great and is definitely a quality addition to anyone’s collection.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

HITTEN – Triumph & Tragedy

April 18, 2022 /

I had heard nothing of this band until I came across them in one of my late night bandcamp rabbit hole searches. I liked what I heard, and boom…the trigger was pulled. They are from Spain, and this is their fourth album. What grabbed me on first listen was the guitar sound and great vocals. The band have a dual guitar attack courtesy of Johnny Lorca and Dani Meseguer, power house vocals supplied by Alex Panza, and apparently Satan is on bass. No drummer in the bio, so it seems a session drummer played on the album.

Right from the get go this albums rocks hard with the killer riff and groove to first track, Built To Rock – a superb opening! Eyes Never Lie is heavy on the melody with a great vocal. Meant To Be Mean has a slow brooding heavy groove a great riff and some killer guitar. Hard Intentions has a very eighties style riff and vibe and has a Europe/MSG feel to it – a great track! The pace picks up with Hard Intentions, with a fast choppy riff – a great up tempo rocker. Side 1 closes out with Core Of The Flame, and it’s a big anthem song with a slow build and power chorus.

Flipping over to Side 2 and Ride Out The Storm should be the opening track according to the cover, but it’s actually Under Hour Spell – another slow build power melody rocker. Panza’s vocals are a highlight of this song with a great hook and chorus. Next up is Light Beyond The Darkness with a great mood change mid song where the groove really changes pace. Power ballad alert! Something To Hide is the token ballad on the album and it’s not even mentioned on the cover. As we all know by now, I’m not a fan of ballads but at least the solo is tasty. The title track closes out the album and we start with a big Maiden style instrumental piece, before an epic 3 part monster begins. A very ambitious and well constructed melodic metal beast to close out the album in fine style. Not sure what happened with the track listing on the cover as Side 2 is all wrong – Ride Out The Storm is not even on the album. Musically it’s on the money and I’ll recommend.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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