Recently, we reviewed the mighty Dimension-X by one-man band Hellfire. Erik Schrage, the project’s main engine, plays black metal very competently, so the stylistic turn in Godzilla caught us unprepared. Godzilla is slow, uber-downtuned groove metal with satanic screams.

Elements of black metal, such as tremolo-picked riffage and diminished-sounding chord progressions are still present, but the stylistic shift is notable. The combination is interesting and hasn’t been explored by someone else, not to our knowledge at least. Some songs ditch the groove metal template for blastbeats and traditional black metal styling as heard on Dimension-X. Melody is also present, in modest dosages as not to spoil the nihilism.

Overall, Godzilla is Hellfire’s ADHD-teen record – it jumps all over the place with enviable energy, it’s obnoxiously loud, has some really strange ideas, but is still a pretty cool guy. Give it a shot, for you might enjoy its unpredictability.

Horns Up: Varied, although to the point of incoherence

Horns Down: Scratchy production