Hydra Vein – Unlamented (Back on Black)
Wednesday, 12th October 2022
Part of the UK thrash movement in the late 80’s, Hydra Vein released two albums before dissolving in 1990. Resurrecting in 2019 with two original members (guitarist Danny Ranger and bassist Damon Maddison) plus new recruits, the third full-length Unlamented comes out as these musicians now based in the Netherlands wish to remind ardent followers that they still have plenty of fire left in those creative coffers. As a long-time appreciator of this style, you often wonder if bands shake off the collective rust after a prolonged absence from the scene to capture attention right away – possessing the proper critical ears to stand up as well in the current marketplace. Survey says – it’s a mixed bag indeed.
The tools all seem to be in place for the group to execute aggressive, heads down songs that feature the trademark gang-oriented choruses, fierce main vocal presence, mid-tempo transitions/slam parts, shredding lead breaks, plus necessary ambiance/dynamic aspects from time to time to keep engagement at peak levels. Properly placing the militant crunchy rhythm parade of “Does the End Justify the Means” after the S.O.D.-ish 52 second “Khuylo” instrumental intro puts Hydra Vein in position to galvanize the troops – aligning well with latter period Onslaught as well as many-eras of Anthrax and Destruction in terms of aggression tempered by key circular transitions or hooks as well as the inherent ‘join the band’ shout-a-long chorus.
The guitar work contains tasty melodic twists against a bevy of mid-tempo to slightly faster rhythms that certainly deserve praise, adrenalized to combustion mode for “Blood Eagle Dawn” as a second half standout. The bass lines aren’t buried in the mix, equal to the groove task during the mid-tempo anthem driven “Mano a Mano” – where vocalist James Manley-Bird uses his lower register to deliver a lurching, menacing presence matching the mood of the arrangement. At other times on this record, the main riffs or subsequent tempo/melody support runs on fumes. It might be a case of not digging deep enough to rise about generic lines, but the Testament-like main sequence for “Twilight” rips parts too close to The Legacy album for this scribe’s liking – while “Eradication Zone” feels uninspired during the main vocal lines that could cause many to skip to another band or record.
Possibly a case of gathering more time together in the rehearsal room or playing a bit more live in this incarnation to get their feet wet, Hydra Vein could give the younger brigade a kick in the behind on this second go around. For now though, Unlamented may be best served for those ‘gotta have everything’ followers of the group while we await a hopefully sinister fourth full-length.
