I like it when material to be reviewed is not only supplied with complete info about the band but also with a multipage booklet and full cover art. Apparently, such a disc is supposed to get an extra point from a reviewer as it can always be reckoned as a worthy collectible item and a sort of reward for the work done by the reviewer. But can any such attributes make up for an average musical filling? Of course, they can’t, and such is unfortunately the case with the debut from the four piece Italian Thrash Metal outfit Crehated.

While Anthems Of Hate is an album bolstered up with a healthy dose of aggression, thick guitar leads, and some really good instrumental sections, I can say that the songs themselves are nothing else but run-of-the-mill and forgettable. It’s too bad because the guys seem to be capable of doing much better as can be shown by several great contributions from the guitar duo of Daniele “Alien” Ciabocco and Daniele “D. Mad” Antonini. However, the less than stellar vocal performances are a little too much at the forefront, bombarding the hapless listener with various snarls, screams and distorted squeaks, at times nearly all at the same moment. Furthermore, track number 7 “The Holy Inquisition” sounds as if they simply forgot to mix and master it, and falls very disagreeably on my ear as compared to the rest of the songs which have a fairly decent production.

However, in spite of my general negativity towards this release, there are quite a few interesting moves thrown in which show some promise. For example, I like the way the guys play with various rhythms, genre changes, sonic effects and synthesizers. It’s occasionally a bit too excessive, but I do think they should be able to bring it to a higher level in the long run. For the time being, I still wouldn’t suggest buying this release without first checking out their myspace samples.

[Visit the band's website]

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