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HAND OF DOOM
Stray From The Path

Self-released (2023)
Rating: 7/10

Although I’m not a big fan of the vocals here, it’s nice to hear a band like the UK’s Hand Of Doom blending different styles. With the London-based band’s debut full-length album, Stray From The Path, you get a mix of death, thrash and groove metal wrapped up in some nice cover art, although it doesn’t truly reflect the content within.

Hand Of Doom suffers from a shouty vocal attack which doesn’t necessarily compliment the refreshing musical styles. Tracks such as ‘Permafrost’ have a real scathing and abrasive design and would be better suited to an unorthodox vocal tirade.

I really do like the sound of this album. The grating and loose chugging on ‘Barbed Wire Noose’, the harsh frenzy of ‘Bleeding Mind’, the angular belligerence of ‘Living Corpse’ complete with wild axe work, and the hardcore strength of ‘Blades’ really showcase the diversity of this talented bunch to the point of an almost reckless punky edge.

Jonno Hanen’s drums are lethal throughout, as is Gus Kim’s guitar sound. In fact, this sort of stuff wouldn’t have been out of place on one of those legendary John Peel radio sessions back in the 80s. You’d have to be pretty soulless not to admire the strange clanking nature of the tracks on offer; ‘Creeping Black’ is dark, muscular and confrontational, and the title track is a punitive strike of robust, rust-coated youthful metal.

The vocals are what they are, some will love them some may not, but there is no denying the power and unforgiving nature of this metallic rattle that suggests Hand Of Doom have a bright future.

Neil Arnold

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