HYPERION „“To Capture the Sun” E.P.”

Music: Blackened Death Metal
Country: U.S.A.
Web site: www.myspace.com/hyperionband
Cool Songs: Warrior of Chariots, Riddled through Time

“To Capture the Sun” is the first recording by the north Texas quartet, HYPERION. This initial offering and the band’s high-impact live performances with EXHUMED, DEVOURMEN, and most recently, the Extreme Texas Metal Fest IV have earned this group much attention in the death metal underground. “To Capture the Sun” focuses on the theme of ancient warfare with a strong emphasis on the mythical beliefs of the times. Those who love classical literature and history will salivate at the Poseidon drawing adorning the cover, as well as song titles like “Warrior of Chariots” and “World of Two Suns.”

The sound HYPERION creates on this album could be best described as hyper-blast death metal combined with the harmonies and thrashing qualities of Swedish melodic death metal and some black metal. The majority of the album is set at full throttle speed, led by the quick hands of drummer Eric Park, who is also known for bashing the skins in DEVOURMENT. Park’s skill is truly something to behold (he is already endorsed by DB drum shoes and featured on sickdrummer.com). He never seems to relax and play standard rock beats; his hands and feet are in constant motion. Because the lyrics are mostly written in an unrhymed, storyline format, the music’s patterns are quite chaotic and erratic. Park bridges the gaps between rhythm changes with precise, bombastic drum rolls. His deafening drum sound, the ravenous vocals of Andrew Austin, and swift speed imitate the warring themes the band seeks to relate to its listeners.

“To Capture the Sun” is bursting with catchy guitar licks, especially the ones modeled after the Swedes. The album is incredibly fast and aggressive. This young group has a lot of talent, but there are areas in need of improvement. While Park’s drumming skills are remarkable and deserve to be highlighted, his drums are so high in the mix that the guitars are difficult to notice. The group would benefit greatly from a master producer like Erik Rutan or the Morris brothers in Florida. Also, the constant rhythm shifting makes it hard to latch onto the catchy parts. At times a killer riff appears, but leaves before it can embed into my brain. More melodies like the acoustic intro and outro would be nice, too, to better convey the music’s mystical themes. Nonetheless, the talent is there, the drive is there—this group has all the tools to become one of the bigger names in the death metal scene.

note: 6.5/10

Tracklist

1. Silent Isles
2. Neo Eden
3. Warrior of Chariots
4. World of Two Suns
5. Riddled Through Time
Total Playing Time: 22:09

Line-up

Andrew Austin – Guitar, Vocals
Nathan Fenoglio – Bass
Mark Griffin – Guitar, Vocals
Eric Park – Drums, Vocals