Thursday, May 2, 2019

HITTEN – First Strike with the Devil (Reissue) review



HITTEN – First Strike with the Devil (Reissue)

Dying Victims Productions




I was at a local music store (CDs, Vinyl, DVDs, etc.) a week ago to pick up some new releases. While thumbing through the CDs I couldn't help but notice all of these "Reissued and Remastered" classics which were already reissued and remastered years ago. Basically some major metal labels are mining every buck out of our (the fan's) pockets with these continuous reissues. While there are some cool labels putting stuff worth while.


Case in point here we have HITTEN who in their native country of Spain are herald as heavy metal heroes. They've been around since 2011 and have three full lenghs to show for it. What we have here is a reissue of their debut full length from 2014. HITTEN are like FATES WARNING which is America's version of IRON MAIDEN. Therefore if MAIDEN ain't around then they fit the bill. Generally speaking it's NWOBHM or if you will, speed metal / power metal.


Listening to this release I kinda know the answer to the question "what if" MAIDEN would've ventured into if they kept with Paul Di'Anno as their vocalist. I'm not saying it's better than what did happen with them but this  is very good. They have those twin guitar galloping rhythms running  throughout this eight song album. Plenty of savage solos permiate through the melodies giving it that lost but not forgotten nostalgia feel. One important note is that in 2017 the band changed vocalists after their second full length (Irony?). So this adds to this release's iconic status.


https://www.dying-victims.de/

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/hitten-first-strike-with-the-devil

https://hittenheavymetal.bandcamp.com/album/first-strike-with-the-devil

https://www.facebook.com/HITTENOFFICIAL/


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