Hiss of Atrocities

It is immediately necessary to say that “Threnody” is superlative. If you love death metal under every aspect this demo would be a great fit in your collection of CD along names such as “Suffocation”, “Opeth”. Why did I mention these two bands? Because Hiss of Atrocities are able to unify in a unique and astute way brutal influences ( suffocation) with parts that would remind you of Akerfeldt band ( opteh ). For Example “ Terrors Align” starts with an arpeggiated displaced intro that then evolves into a brutal blast beat section that in consequence goes back to the arpeggio on which Swinford sings a beautiful melody that would evoke similar music as Opeth. As you can notice by reading the names of the Hiss of Atrocities line up, half the components are Italians while the rest are Americans. Their home base is in Boston in which they have performed many gigs. When listening to “Threnody” you can immediate notice their great capabilities: to write music that sounds very original without making their influences stand out so much, the immense technical abilities ( Francesco Artusato’s solo on “ Terrors Allign” is magnificent) of all the components of the band and the power they are able to transmit thanks to an incredible production work at the hands of Jeremy Krull who’s labor on the CD is enough to make bigger bands be envious. Going back to instrumental technicalities not enough can be said about Giovanni Durst great performance who seems to be able to attack any kind of groove. The bass sound, performed by Roy Lev-Ari, Is also extremely well done who can follow with great precision the guitar riffs. Finally, The vocals by Matt Swinford are also outstanding whose technique can allow him to come close to the brutal sounds of metal and mix them with clean beautiful sounds that are very appealing
( Even though these are applied less).

Excellent, Excellent.

Vote: 5/5

- http://undergroundzonevr.interfree.it

Nothing is more pleasant than finding a demo of a totally unknown band in my mailbox and then being completely knocked as the music is streaming out of the speakers. That’s exactly what happened when I put Hiss of Atrocities’ new demo into my CD-player. Hiss Of Atrocities is an American band based in the Boston area. The band is put together by five young men who all are Berklee College Of Music students. Their style is technical and brutal death metal, but they have also made room for atmosphere and melody. Bands such as Opeth, Nevermore, Arch Enemy and Meshuggah are mentioned as sources of inspiration, so if you can imagine some kind of a bastard mixture of all those bands you should have a fair idea of what to expect. A strong song material, technically brilliant performances and a very good production makes this a high quality death metal release. It will surprise me a lot if the next album from these guys isn’t a full length album released through a record label. And to all of you death metal fans out there; don’t forget where you first read the name Hiss Of Atrocities

Vote: 9/10 - http://www.streetswebzine.com

This demo-CD, including the 2005 demo-CD songs too, is a must-have for those who need brutality, class and elevated rates of performing skill; you can immediately recognize all of the musicians are students of the Berklee College, but don't worry: they never try to overdo and stun by showing what they are able to play differently than what most aren't; what they do is use their abilities to embellish their songs only where necessary, aware that economy is always beautiful in art.
The Boston-based multiethnic quintet is about delivering original, groovy and partly melodic Death metal influenced by Opeth, Arch Enemy and Meshuggah, with several portions of second generation Thrash metal as well; very appreciable are the cleanliness, the precision and the unusual variety for an extreme act of riffs and vocals, making the product modern and light to listen to from beginning to end. A mention must also go to the awesome drum parts, definitely above the average, enthroning Dürst among the best five US skinbeaters.
What you'll find here are aggressive yet catchy constructions with mid-tempo guitar solos, not too razor-edge but brilliant on the trail of Marty Friedman; these inserts are used to separate the fierceness of the rest of the song and get plainly played with the intent of giving every note a sense of existence. Hiss of Atrocities can cut your throat so fast and so naturally without you even realize they have arrived; moreover, they are a group of perfectionists with full of knowledge of the facts; that's why you can't but expect anything to be randomly put into their music.

Not all songs are fast, and especially "Terrors Align" is a slow melodic piece of Death metal with some Blackish screams but also some clean vocals (on this occasion the most suitable comparison is with Nevermore and early Winters Bane). There's no composition surmounting the others in terms of beauty, also comprising the older stuff, and the songwriting is professional and ripe, never boring or repetitive. Probably many will find the apex of inspiration in "Watchtower of Malevolence", which contains a very brief Voivod-like vocal intrusion and proceeds from Jazz to Alice in Chains, to conclude with the almighty latest Pyrexia, all of them knotted like just a wizard can do!
The differences incident to the older tracks are merely two: first the recording is now excellent, whereas the raw 2005 one lacks in balance, sounding almost monophonic; in the second place the three songs of their debut demo-MCD someway resemble a mixture of early Fear Factory, old Grave melted with Shining and finally Macabre; notwithstanding an ample dose of personality is constantly (and luckily) preserved; just think that only Hiss of Atrocities have genial ideas like the fascinating vocals at the center of "Suffocation"; a singing impossible to describe univocally, the impression I got is the one of a threnody for somebody whose soul has passed away and is reincarnating but I'm sure each of you listeners would give a different interpretation of feeling. And how about the totally unexpected arpeggio? Exactly in its right place, as well as the vaguely Mudvayne- and Tool-influenced vocals of "Stained Glass Flesh", contrasting the two guitars mixing Opeth and Dimmu Borgir.

These newcomers are one of the few acts dealing with melodic Death metal that might be appreciated by those who usually can't stand a genre in which melody is alternated within an extreme composition. Polyrhythmic abundance, utmost tightness, innovation and involving arranging make the rest. Still have doubts on these 5 music masters' competence? I just guess not.

Vote: 89/100 - http://www.rockmetalbands.com

"…great demo from Boston-based death metal band Hiss of Atrocities."?"With the band citing their influences as Meshuggah‚ Opeth and Arch Enemy‚ you should already have a fair idea of what they're about‚ but what's particularly interesting here is that they are all students at Berklee College of Music. Their majors in 'film scoring composition' have certainly aided towards what they've recorded as‚ whilst the music is damned heavy‚ there is a certain subtlety most evident during the more grand moments."
"Intricate guitars and melodies over driving riffs and double kick-drums is the game here and stand-out track 'Watchtower of Malevolence' is a prime example. Vocals are spat out over a forked tongue as guitars hammer away‚ before a break down into the kind of funk lick that I never thought I'd hear on a death metal track."
"'Stained Glass Flesh is fantastic."

Vote: 9/10 - www.onemetal.com

Great death-metal distinguished by impressive technical abilities and by very original structures. This is what Hiss of Atrocities has to offer, band based out of LA with an Italian pedigree to its components. The disc contains four new songs plus other three that were released on an earlier self titled demo one year ago. Even though the tracks were recorded in two different periods there is not much difference in the sound and inspiration. The use of breaks close to Opeth and Nevermore, growling voices alternated with clean, inserted in a context of thick, brutal and articulate riffage is the particularity of this American band that create non standard songs with a distinguishable sound. The only obstacle to overcome, from our ‘Bostonians”, is to have this CD under the ownership of a label. But in the age of internet everything is possible.
- www.metalwave.it

Extremely great technical Death Metal from Hiss of Atrocities, American band mostly inspired from Opeth.

The disc consists of songs created in different periods: Three of which belonged to a previous demo and four song are new.

The production is excellent, the artwork is scarce but essential, the alternate voice from growl to scream/clean is clinically performed , the articulate riffs create a thick sound and the rhythm section is a fundamental support in the various musical solutions proposed: the songs, in fact, are completely distinguishable from one to the other and this demonstrates the wide range of creativity of the band that, unlucky many other bands in extreme metal , don’t fossilize their music with-in traditional structures but work on versatility and depth in terms of composition.

Judging upon the extremely high level of this product, I can’t explain to myself why this Bostonian band has not yet found a label to support their worthy efforts.

Vote: 100/100 - www.metalzone.it

Ah, but if the bands were a fireworks display then the grand finale was Hiss of Atrocities. Motherfuckers raised the dead! And managed to get the crowd off their asses and moshing. What the fuck is that thing the singer does with his head? It's like Linda Blair in the exorcist only much, much better. If he told me my mother sucks cocks in hell, I think I'd believe it. Crazy shit. These monsters are masters of metal madness and they were the perfect night cap. My mojo was going enough to want to howl and drink blood --and I'm vegetarian! - http://www.zimbio.com

Hiss of Atrocities has been voted for the third time the best band of the week on THE WOLF'S DEN radio show (www.fearlessradio.com). This is the message the radio station sent to us: "Congrats once again. You have been chosen as THE WOLFS DEN BAND OF THE WEEK!!!! I think this makes you band of the week three times. Much Respect, WOLF." THE WOLF'S DEN BAND OF THE WEEK basically kings for a week. A song of ours will be played every hour. Then at the end of the week, we have THE MIDNIGHT ALBUM. The whole damn thing will be played. So stay tuned. - www.fearlessradio.com