Bullethole Incarceration CD

Few countries around the world can brag of a healthier, more diversified heavy metal scene than Greece, whose countless underground groups have transcended the predominant European-derived power and black metal strains to adopt American trends like thrash-core and nu-metal, as well. Modern metal band Bullethole fit perfectly into the latter category, and it's both interesting and ironic that their seemingly more commercially viable direction should actually prove the exception, rather then the rule, in their native country. Not that the group itself tarries over these analytical ruminations for even a second; launching their collective weight into this, their debut album Incarceration, with vicious, enthusiastic abandon. The title track, "Broken Lies, Shattered Alibies" [sic] and "Now I Know" rank among the most obvious standouts of a cohesively strong set; one that is unafraid to expand upon nu-metal's shortsighted vision with astute melodic and harmonic passages, dynamic tempo-jumps, and even the odd bit of thrashing double-kick drums. The hybrid end result is not dissimilar from Sweden's The Haunted, actually, and credit the crunchy but clear production obtained here for allowing Bullethole's thoughtful, if overtly cynical lyrics to shine through the fury as well -- a promising first step for this group's career. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia

Bullethole: Costas P (vocals); Antreas Pat (guitar); Leyteris E (drums).