I'm certain there is research in an esteemed academic journal somewhere indicating a strong correlation between newfangled thrash metal bands and keeling over on a piece of furniture out of sheer boredom. Many metal subgenres have aged just fine-gracefully, one might argue, in some cases. Thrash metal, however, has gone down to the dumps. It sluggishly panders around its nostalgia act, knowing those glorious days of old are gone and never coming back. Like many records of its kind, "Hidden Evolution" generates mixed feelings. On one hand, I want to warmly admire Angelus Apatrida, but on the other, I'm dying to systematically bonk each member of this Spanish squad upside the head with a rolled up newspaper.Angelus Apatrida did a nice job winning me over at first. They rival the Havoks and the Eviles on a fundamental scale-technically proficient, lots of energy, songs bringing out various tempos that encompass the thrash metal identity, and the rest of the basics. When things are going right, Angelus Apatrida is unstoppable. "Architects" and "Serpents on Parade," in particular, dive headlong into beastly riffs and shredding solos roasted over the yelps of a versatile vocalist, making these staples memorable and raging. These cuts are how one might imagine them, yet stuffed to the brim with little bonuses, like drum fills that actually add to the music and enrich the texture. Originality isn't a forte, however; the parroting of thrash metal's progenitors stands out like a rancid fart in a crowded classroom. Still, the aforementioned tracks and some others walk away without a sore rump. They are solid, even first-rate on occasion.
But just as "Hidden Evolution" made its case to be a winner, the dudes of Angelus Apatrida decided it would be nice to nullify its decent bits by throwing in boneheaded nonsense. They have this habit of derailing decent tunes with these awful, awful choruses that would sound just right on a Trivium album or a forgotten piece of douche-era Annihilator. "I WILL GIVE MUH LIFE FOR THIS FLAG! FIGHT FOR FREEDUM TIL MUH LAST BREATH," the vocalist croons on "First World of Terror," whose unrelenting cheesiness sticks out like a lactose thunderhead spraying torrents of shredded cheddar and mozzarella. Half of the album is tainted by these atrocious choruses, which rifle decent cuts straight to the pooper just as they were gaining traction.
"Hidden Evolution" occasionally blends in with other thrash metal records of its ilk, sticking to riffs that don't bite and songs without an edge. The tipping point here, of course, is a blockade contemporary thrash metal bands just can't seem to get around: the use of modern production values, which strongly contradict the sound's raw, violent nature. Rabid wolves should not be shampooed, yet here the beast looms, snapping its jaws while its shiny coat glistens handsomely in the sunlight. The only real shocker here is the nine-minute title track-a piece akin to Megadeth's "Countdown to Extinction"-that ends the record on a positive note. Other than that, Angelus Apatrida does some things right, others not. I am neither offended nor impressed.