Review by Alex on November 15, 2021.

Very much surprised going into the latest album from Hyperdontia titled Hideous Entity. The vocals more than anything I for sure did not expect to change, as it seems the vocalist of Sulphurous, Mathias has now taken over the duty and Undergang frontman David Mikkelsen seems to be taking some time out this time around. Not sure if this was done as a strategy to make the sound of Hyperdontia different from the other acts David is involved with or as just some relief to dedicate more time to Phrenelith (which tore apart the underground with their newest album). Either way this change in vocals did take some time adjusting primarily due to the custom of hearing David's voice/or whatever is lurking around in his stomach. However, after a few listens I developed a liking to the new change and with Mathias in the driver seat, the sense of assurance was prevalent.

'Snakes Of Innards' sounded like an above average entry doing all the typical DM gymnastics, but the fun truly began with 'Trapped In The Void' that really asserted itself as a standout track on Hideous Entity. Utilizing the trademark Hyperdontia style of constructing riffs and merging it with the traditionalist death/thrash metal technic, this entry emerged as a staple of the band while giving a gruesome welcome to Mathias into its cavity. Onwards to tracks such as 'Grinding Teeth', you get the feeling that the songs become stronger in terms of their foundation and architectural makeup whilst the vocals sync and adapt to the compositional changes. You'll appreciate the way Hyperdontia combines a somewhat technical and unpredictable flow (mostly via the drumming) to the body of the record. Filled with riffs for each section it seems, the material flexes quite a bit of muscle as guitarist Mustafah lays down reckless fiery strings to compliment the smooth drum and bass of Tuna and Malik. 'Wretched Mockery Of Creation' along with 'Impervious Veil' crank up the drumming and riffing affair with some of the best segments on Hideous Entity, thus ensuring the listener stays tuned for further contagious confectioneries.

The production at first was a bit off setting, I was expecting something more along the lines of what was heard on their debut EP, Abhorrence Veil, even Nexus Of Teeth took some time getting used to where the mastering is concerned but it all turned out well and so did this. Guess you could say that the audial mastering was more focused on the drumming but left just enough room for the guitars and 'Snakes Of Innards' shows that from the inception. Also, if you take into consideration the pace at which the music is played, you sort of feel like they wanted to create an audial representation of the cover art via death/thrash Possessed style. It all sounds like a mash-up of instruments though having individual traits and highlights that you'd have to dig a bit for. I like the buried and blurred approach Hideous Entity incorporates hence it gives the listener a bit of a challenge.

All in all, I do think Hideous Entity holds up well in the still young catalogue of Hyperdontia, Mathias brought a bit of his Sulphurous character to the million tooth monster, therefore you'd get a bit of both worlds but mostly the main cavity of Hyperdontia remains as an audial statement to the listener.

By the way, gotta love those pinch harmonics on 'Coils Of Wrath'.

Rating: 8.3 out of 10

Review by Felix on April 27, 2024.

Some critics wrote about "Nemesis", the second album of Grip Inc., that the band just had tried again to captivate the listener with its success formula of the ingenious debut. I did not share this point of view. Yet it seems that the musicians took this criticism seriously. "Solidify" did not ignore the musical roots of the band. But it left no doubt that the highly talented musicians had started a journey in order to reach new shores. Dave Lombardo took the foot off the gas pedal so that the compositions showed a different approach. Consequently, the album sounded less furious without lacking of heaviness. And what was more, the modified approach led to fascinating results. The maliciously crawling "Griefless" reflected the new roadmap of Grip Inc. in a brilliant manner. Drilling guitar riffs characterised the beginning and the end of the song. They also occurred during the choruses and were constantly alternating with the calm verses. While the riffing offered the well-known outstanding quality of Sorychta´s work, exactly the tranquil sequences emphasised the menacing aura. Gus Chambers also played his part without the slightest error. The dark lyrics matched with the atmosphere of the verses and caused discomfort. While listening to them, I got the feeling of walking down a poorly illuminated street at night, not knowing, who moves in my back. Finally, the suspenseful solo part confirmed the perfect balance of malignancy and melody. A "gripping" highlight.

The focusing on "Griefless" does not mean that the remaining tracks stood in its shadow. At least half of the album reached an overwhelming level. To be more concrete, the first five songs could hardly be beaten. Their constructions were roughly comparable with that of "Griefless" - with one exception. "Amped" seemed to be a forgotten jewel of the recording session for their debut. The slicing riffs broke any kind of resistance and the whipping drums set the noteworthy pace. Despite its short breaks, the song became a vortex of brutality, driven by the precise double bass of Lombardo. Backward-looking consumers might be of the opinion that "Amped" marked the only track that revealed the "true" Grip Inc. These nostalgic people ignore that already the second album of the band did not follow strictly the direction of the debut. However, "Amped" was the best Slayer song of the nineties - and please understand this as a serious compliment.

Despite the artillery fire of "Stresscase" or the accusing yet quick-tempered "Verräter (Betrayer)", the second half of the full-length was slightly weaker. However, the only throwaway tracks were the calm and almost philosophical "Human?" and "Vindicate". The latter one suffered from edgy yet somehow aimless riffs and the slightly bumpy chorus did not reveal the full effectiveness of the band. Nevertheless, nine exciting tracks left their mark while being equipped with a transparent, offensive and punchy sound. Without question, Grip Inc. bared its teeth, regardless of the more dignified compositions. They had found a very good balance between fanaticism and calculation. To put it in a nutshell, "Solidify" was a very good album. From a present day point of view, it does not mark the climax of their artistic creativity. Nevertheless, it possesses at least a handful of songs (and a fantastic drum solo in the last track) that each and every thrash metal addict must know.

Rating: 8.2 out of 10