Bands of old any Old Metal genre must take care with two kinds of traps in their way: one is to try to use the genres' clichés in a refresh and new way (in other words, using them, but trying to write songs on their own), and the second resides in the sonority of the releases. On the second trap, many bands with good works fall into it, forgetting that to sound organic doesn't mean to push things to emulate the old recordings that were done on that way due the lack of money to make them better (a good read o METALLICA's and SLAYER's biographies would clear things in this point). And the North American quintet LEATHURBITCH felt in one of these traps, as heard on "Shattered Vanity".

Their music is a form of U. S. Heavy Metal (remembering: full of hooking melodies inherited of British Heavy Metal School and North American Hard Rock acts of the 70s, and a good technical care) filled with Speed Metal influences. It's melodic and hooking, but with many hooks that are hard to resist and charming choruses. It's obvious that their musical potential is sensible; but they need to work in a better way with the clichés of the genre. It's good and full of energy, but with such potential, things could be better. The trap lies in the sonority. As many acts of Old School genres, it seems that they think that the organic feeling can work by using a crude sound quality, but it's the opposite: it's simple and 'plug 'n' play', but it lacks a better definition, and some instrumental tunes are truly out of what their musical work needs. Again, the same tip: maybe a producer like Joel Grind (of TOXIC HOLOCAUST), Olof Wikstrand (of ENFORCER) or Sacha Laskow (who worked with BLACK PESTILENCE on "Hail the Flesh") can give them a better insight on this point in the future.

On the 9 tracks of "Shattered Vanity", the band shows potential to create good music, and sharpening their efforts a bit more, things will work out. For now, "The Dark Mirror" (very good melodies and guitar riffs and solos that fill the song with energy), "Shattered Vanity" (the faster tempos near Speed Metal are really hooking, with good work on bass guitar and drums), "Shadow Mistress" and "The Invitation" (where some of the Hard Rock elements of the past are clear), "Nasty Reputation" (again with clear Hard Rock and Rock 'n' Roll influences in the vein of AC/DC and MOTÖRHEAD can be heard), and "Horror's Unseen" show how they good they can be, adjusting some points (as the high-pitched screams of the vocals that only annoy the hearer, but it doesn't mean to fire the vocalist, just to rehearsal and use his tunes in a better way), they can take higher flights.

In the end of all, "Shattered Vanity" is a good recollection of ideas, but LEATHURBITCH have capacity of doing better than that.