Hacktivist EP Review

Members:

Jermaine Hurley - Vocals
Ben Marvin - Vocals
Timfy James - Guitar / Electronics / Vocals
Josh Gurner - Bass
Rich Hawking - Drums

New Age

This intro track prepares us for what we can expect to hear on the E.P. An interesting intro of male orchestral vocals makes us wonder if there’s something different about this E.P from the tracks released previously. It quickly breaks into a heavy background riff with Jay and Ben delivering some fast vocals. There is a short melodic break before its drops into some heavy dissonant chords, an addition to the previous open note version. It settles into some ambient picked chords with short stabs summoning the head banging!

Unlike Us

Hacktivist previously released a music video for this back in July, so I’m sure we've listen to this many a time! Anyway, after the huge intro riff it breaks into a catchy verse. Loving the way Josh has made the bass so prominent and outlines the rhythm of it, again Jay is laying down some vocals over this. In the second verse, it’s Ben's turn. About two thirds of the way through, Jay and Ben hype us with call and response vocals for what is about to come for the outro! The outro is absolutely huge! I first heard this at UK Tech Metal Fest when I was watching Tim test out some new gear from Invictus, Zilla and Line 6. By heavily gating the same intro riff, it really highlights the amazing production – I’m sure people would agree with me if I said it’s my favorite instrumental part of the album, either that or the riff in blades...

Blades
Have to give it to Tim on this one for laying down some vocals of his own to open the track. They fit really well, and tie the song back to other bands on the scene such as Heart of a Coward (Ben and Tim’s ex-band). Back to the grime style now as Jay and Ben produce some lyrics in a rhythmic style that compliment the rhythms of this track. Might have to create a groove button for 1:53 on this track; definitely one that causes crowds to nod simultaneously. Tim uses the 8 string to its full potential with some massive chords that fill out the mix extremely well. The lows cut through just as well as the highs. This is the part just before his cleans enter again. Another heavily gated part leads us out in the Hacktivist style we know and love!

Hacktivist

My jaw dropped when I heard the album version. Having been used to the previous release, I was not expecting it to be mixed too differently or new parts to be added! The drums in this track laid down by Richard particularly stand out for me in this track, it makes the track sound so much more powerful. I can almost mime the words to this now I've enjoyed it so many times! Just before the mellow interlude half way through the song, Tim shows off both his writing and production skills; using gates again, and off-beats to create a contrast. “I think that you have bitten off more than you can chew” is part which is the epitome of this track, and maybe this E.P.

Cold Shoulders

Ben takes his turn in kicking off the track this time, with Jay providing the response. I think Ben is more dominant on this track. This track includes the heaviest riff of the album – it’s brutal! Bending and releasing of the first fret of the low E by the sounds of things, such an awesome tone! This is quickly contrasted with the second verse; it’s quite mellow and predominantly driven by drums. Now time for another head banging groove at 2:20 – has a great response at Hacktivist gigs. The instrumental from here on in is phenomenal, so melodic and yet still driven by rhythm, pure writing genius! I love the drum groove which leads it perfectly into a chorus including vocals from Tim again. It’s a great climax and the way it all comes together to end the E.P is fantastic.

In summary then, Hacktivist have put together a brilliant E.P full of groove and grime – a milestone in this combination of rap/grime/djent.

Good job guys, keep at it and we’re looking forward to the album! 

Listen to the whole EP on our Youtube now: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLclZYosOpjWoU4x84xx4SobtSyhq6xFu&feature=view_all