Hatriot
Heroes Of Origin

The album I am about to review is the latest effort by Steve "Zetro" Souza. For those non-believers unfamiliar with this name, I’ll share a few words.

Souza was, for a short period (between 1983 and 1986), the singer of Testament (when they were still in the underground), before becoming the iconic singer of Exodus, writing pages in the history of Thrash metal. Later, he released a couple of albums with Dublin Death Patrol and a great album with Tenet.

Enough with the chatter, let’s get to the point. Souza returns in 2013 with a band of unknowns: Kosta Varvatakis and Miguel Esparza on guitars, and his two very young sons Cody Souza on bass and Nicky Souza (just over eighteen!) on drums, releasing the debut record of his new band "Hatriot", titled "Heroes of Origin".

The record opens with "Suicide Run" and immediately makes clear the group’s intentions—a Thrash metal track without compromise, featuring sharp guitars, devastating and pounding drumming, and Souza’s voice even more acidic than we were used to, bordering on screaming. Despite no longer being in his youth, the singer still shows great vocal power and an enviable connection with the music. The album continues with a sonic onslaught with two more intense tracks like the excellent "Weapons of Class Destruction" and "Murders American Style," characterized by convulsed and intricate riffs and continuous solo exchanges showcasing the technique of the "Varvatakis - Esparza" axe duo. The song in question is an authentic Thrash powerhouse. Without a moment to catch your breath, "Blood Stained Wing" kicks off—another furious and pounding Thrash piece. Then comes "The Violent Time of my Dark Passenger," a slightly more melodic track but no less impactful, enriched by typically 80’s choruses that might at times seem a bit predictable.

Before we even notice, we reach track number six, the first mid-tempo of the album, "Globacidal," where the young band led by Souza shows they can focus on groove and not just sheer execution speed. The beautiful "And your Children to be Damned" follows, featuring some death influences that surface more prominently. Then it's the turn of the complex and devastating "The Mechanics of Annihilation," which, if it wasn’t clear enough, reiterates that Souza and his young comrades have no intention of slowing down and want to keep pushing the pedal to the metal. The album approaches its conclusion with two good yet not exceptional tracks, namely "Shadows of The Buried" and the title track "Heroes of Origin."

In conclusion, I would say we have an honest and enthusiastic album, which is uncommon these days. The young band clearly wants to stand out and play as extremely as possible. The sounds are predominantly 80s-style Thrash, but they don’t shy away from adding a touch of death metal and black metal, with a small nod to the extreme music of today. Souza proves he is still worthy of his reputation, delivering an outstanding performance both in vocal quality and interpretative ability, and the anger he can still unleash. The band also proves up to the challenge, with the two guitarists executing excellent guitar work, and the Souza brothers delivering impressive performances. Special mention goes to Nicky Souza on drums, who despite his young age demonstrates an excellent technical skill and a great urge to accelerate, which gives each track a noteworthy hammering effect. Many will compare them to Exodus, pointing out how influenced they are by them, and I’d say that's quite natural given that the singer and frontman of Hatriot is the same who brought glory to Exodus.

Regarding the production, I would say it’s perfect for the genre, giving the tracks the right power and recreating the typical 80s sound, without sounding anachronistic.

I recommend this album to all fans of uncompromising, hardcore, and extreme Thrash Metal.