Immortal Hazzard- Convulsion Review

Immortal Hazard, “Convulsion” (2014)

The first thing that struck me about Immortal Hazard’s 2014 release “Convulsion” is how physiological the sound is. As I listened I felt like I was jumping around, slamming in to other peoples’ bodies. “Convulsion” has an incredible presence—it feels like you’re at the show and Immoral Hazard yelling at you to move or be crushed.

The sound on this album is heavy and melodic, full of predictable transitions from a rhythmic beat to a guitar solo; or from a chugging staccato verse, to a powerful chorus. In other words, this album delivers a satisfying rock out. Track two “Reborn” most clearly and eloquently exemplifies what strikes me most about this album: Power, Build Up, and Release.

Immoral Hazard sets up excellent riffs and builds on them as the songs progress. As in, that simple, heavy beat that starts the song develops throughout in to something heavier and more pleasurable in its complexity.

The predominant feature of this album that I think sets it apart from other testosterone-filled thrashy, old school Metal albums is it’s presence. Something about this album is very intimate and in-your-face. The more I listen, the more I feel that this experience of intimacy and being-there is conditioned by the rawness Teo’s vocals. They are aggressive in their screaming but allow an almost vulnerable air in that he’s not quite screaming at us, and could be serenading listeners with genuine feelings. Just because it’s heavy, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have feelings.

The bass of Alex was lost in the background in my first listen to “Convulsion” but as I tuned my ear on the second and third (and forth) listens, I started to realize the balancing qualities that hold the super distorted guitars of Teo and Angelos in balance. This is a sound of finite but multiple factors reinforcing each other.

The drums of Tolis play an immeasurable role in keeping “Convulsion”’s sound in a single piece. Under screeching solos and chugging brutality, to the moments of softness and vulnerability, listeners need only look to the drums for how to feel.

On the whole each of the 10 tracks on “Convulsion” delivers an aggressive acting out of excitement and physiology. Even if you were sitting and typing through the whole album, by the time it’s over you’ll feel like you’re walking out of a mosh pit.