Defying the Rules

This album makes it's place among the greatest metal debuts ever written. No album has quite floored me like this one on a first listen. Now that I have over a year to digest it and the initial craze is over, is it really worth 100%? No, to give it 100% would be to presume that it is a perfect album. Even though it may not be perfect, it comes extremely close.

Formed in Brazil nearly 12 years ago they sought to create the most metal fucking album them could. The most talented musicians of their metal scene came together and did nothing but write, craft, and perfect! Great albums can be created in a single year, it has been proven. Defying the Rules was not created in a single year though. 8 year of writing, crafting and perfecting from musicians of the highest order. This is what created Defying the Rules. This is what makes the ultimate metal album. The riffs are catchy and memorable, they are warm with the feel of the great 80’s sound, warm like a bright flame that burns when you look into it. The solos are technical but not wankery, long but not tiresome, and beautiful. The drums are supportive of the guitar. The drums are played with talent but do not attempt to outshine the guitar but simply make it sound better. The drums succeed. The bass is also very noteworthy. Many metal bands try to hide the bass, Hibria does not and for good reason. Hibira has an exquisite bassist who is even given the chance to shine through solos found on a couple of tracks. The vocals soar, the lyrics are original, and the choruses are catchy. His words and wisdom and voice will remain in your head long after you have listened to the album, and it’s a good thing. Hibira takes all these things and puts them together in a way no other band could. They create and album so beautiful so memorable and so powerful that it has become an instant classic.

Some people say Hibria is power metal. I agree with them, Hibria is indeed very powerful. Before I heard this album, I didn’t know metal could be this good. Hibria have destroyed the old metal world and created one a new. A new world, or kingdom if you will. This kingdom is a kingdom to share. My friends, listen to my words and share in this with me.