Hidden Intent - Terrorform (Own Label)

South Australian thrashers Hidden Intent seem to have done a lot of growing up since we last heard from them on 2021’s Dead End Destiny. Gone, then, are the days of Pub Feeds, and getting Dogs Up Ya, to be replaced by… maturity, in the shape of new offering Terrorform.

Whether that’s a good thing or not I’ll leave for you to decide, but one thing’s for sure, this new, ‘grown up’ sound they’ve chanced upon suits them very well. The bass-driven ‘headisms of Cursed and Bound aside, there’s a distinct American feel to the material here as the band weave a noise that takes Sacred Reich as it’s main cue, mixing in other influences as required. The resultant sound isn’t exactly unique, but it’s incredibly well done and kudos is absolutely due to lead guitarist Phil Bennett who gilds every track here with utterly sparkling solos. The one he rips out on the afore-mentioned Cursed and Bound is jaw-droppingly, air-guitaringly splendid, and his playing throughout really deserves the widest possible audience. Have a listen, marvel, then tell absolutely everybody you know to get an earful too! There’s some properly next-level activity afoot!

His riffage ain’t too shabby either; when he, bassist/vocalist Chris McEwen and drummer Paul Lewis link in on the titanic chug that commences Dyssomnia it feels like the very earth is shaking under your sofa and that the safety of your living room is at risk. When they hit these heights of bowel-rumbling heaviness, it’s not too hard to imagine Hidden Intent making a bigger, much bigger, name for themselves than the one they already possess, and I for one would love to hear more material like this in the very near future.

The big ballad One More For The Road isn’t quite as successful, and it sounds a little shoehorned in compared to the other, more aggressive fare on offer. But that’s really about the only negative I can shine a light on, with the final analysis being that Terrorform is the album that really signifies that this is a band with the ability to go a very long way indeed in it’s chosen field. Good luck to ’em!