A week following on from the success of Kansas City Chiefs in Superbowl LIV I would like to bring your attention to another triumph hailing from the Missouri powerhouse. HELLEVATE are a five-piece band that play 'Heavy F*****g Metal' now personally I would actually have them in more of a Classic Thrash sort of niche. They are clearly an already well established band within their hometown, opening shows for the likes of ROSS THE BOSS, TYR and SACRED REICH

With their EP "Krampusnacht" we are treated to a very simple cover that features the Austrian harbinger of discipline in a very American Traditional style. Also, as a quick side note for those who are unaware, Krampus is a European legend of a demonic goat like entity who would punish children for misbehaving during the Christmas season, think if The Grinch, Scrooge and that one miserable uncle you have had a weird child...

The opening titular song "Krampusnacht" is very heavy and energetic from the start. With a styling that I would liken to a modern hybrid of SLAYER and ANTHRAX we are instantly introduced to the Classic Heavy Metal influences of the group. We are treated to pounding beats, heavy riffs and vocals that invite the listener to join in, also the addition of sleigh bells during the breakdown was a stroke of genius. With energy and finesse I would believe that this was a song from the golden era of Thrash. It is a very easy flowing and natural track that shows a lot of promise for the rest of the EP.

There isn't much to be said about the second track "If You Want Peace..." at 45 seconds long it serves as a build up to the final song of the EP. It does this well, with air raid sirens and a disturbing voice that adds to the idea of a troubled time.

The transition between "If You Want Prace..." and "Prepare For War" is excellent, they flow into one another perfectly and the energy that was developed during "Krampusnacht" is again continued into the final track. Again following some very classic stylings we are treated to a musical delight with brutal riffs and a strong vocal track that shows the depth of Erik's talents.

Overall the EP is a great offering to the Heavy Metal community and one that HELLEVATE should be very proud of. There is clearly a vast amount of talent within the group that should see them continue to grow and hopefully build on the successes that they have had in the past.