The Eyes of the Biter

Lord knows São Paulo, Brazil is a hotbed of razor edged, angst fueled and passionate heavy metal bursting at the seams; any such largely populated burg is bound to overflow with eager metal warriors, young and old, looking to prove their mettle. Enter Biter, a four-man juggernaut whose first predatory strike assuages primal electric ax yearnings and overall battery bludgeoning thanks to rich, meaty guitar tones and a jet fueled delivery.

Although I initially had to suppress a smirk (the fast approaching siren of "Nightfall" is akin to welfare day, er, any day in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside where drug overdoses abound) I quickly dummied up and showed respect once Biter's repertoire proper kicked in. The front man's craggy rasps and snarling, downright vituperative caws drip with venom while remaining constant, comprehensive and concise. The overall production is very organic and raw; as well, the thick, thumping bass lines are glued fast to the sharply angled and cutting guitar riffs while the drummer is wound up like the Energizer Bunny on crack - his beats are stoic, tight and vociferous.

Whilst "Midnight City" represents Biter's quintessential metal anthem "Mistress of Darkness" is a festive "lady of the night" rocker possessing a killer bridge and sizzling lead break which reaffirms why they voraciously dig this kind of music in the first place. These boys' love of metal is super evident - I can also sense a kick-ass devil-may-care camaraderie in the reckless party anthem which is the chipper and choppy "Wild N' Free" - Germany's Blackslash is throwing devil horns as we speak.

More beer swilling, mailbox bashing and pumpkin smashing revelry is gleaned on "Heavy Metal Hurricane", another expressive hot rockin' twizzler of a blues solo withstanding, but call me Jim Dandy and dunk me in an moonshine filled oak barrel if the titular track doesn't tickle your fancy! Dig the honky-dory, rollicking drum beat and freakin' cool, nighttime trolling feel of the sick natural harmonics introducing the rewarding piece de resistance which is the title track. All the members pull forth here to prove they're a contending force to be reckoned with, ready to sink its fangs into an ever appreciative metal World. The animated background vocals on the chorus and skittering, scratchy squealer of a guitar solo, however swift and brief, ends this with a full-on righteous impact.

My oh-so-random perusal of Eyes of the Biter can be compared to spinning a globe and laying a finger on wherever it slows down and stops...a great way to travel! You know it's a worthwhile find if good 'ol NWOTHM (the esteemed online trad metal purveyor) flagged 'er down. With five tracks proper at just over twenty minutes, I'm glad to announce I'm duly sold and prepared to forgive Biter for the uber-pedestrian track names as well as usurping Nightmare's High Speed Venom cover art, propitiously at that (though I'm willing to bet the Colombians won't mind).