Overt Enemy – Inception

By RingMaster Review on March 12, 2019 • ( 0 )

Ahead of a new EP, US thrashers Overt Enemy have just officially released their debut, Inception on Bandcamp and if you missed it upon its initial outing last year via Confused Records there is little excuse to make the same mistake again. Acknowledged as “the best Slayer tribute in North America” the Mission, Texas based band provides three original tracks upon their first EP which command, no demand eager attention.

Formed in 2013, Overt Enemy have proceeded to share stages with the likes of Accused A.D., Angkor Wat, Confused, Panteon, X.I.L, Severance, and Sons of Texas, their reputation growing along with an inclination to focus on creating original music. As mentioned the band is currently working on their follow-up release, Possession being recorded with producer/engineer Joshua Lopez (Immortal Guardian), and you can imagine that its anticipation will only be increased with this reboot of Inception.

The EP opens up with Mercenary and from the off has ears involved as wiry strands of enticing guitars cloak disorder carrying samples. Swiftly the suggestive threat and intrigue of those initial lures are taken up by rolling beats, drummer Jaime Ayala further fuelling the song’s immediate drama before the great trespassing vocals of Leo Ortiz launch their threat and accusation in the midst of his and fellow guitarist Rob Hahn’s riffs and incursive grooves. It is a great, rousing start to the release only enhanced by the throbbing grumbling mumble of Slayerella’s brooding bass.

Political Cancer follows with the bass an instant dark incitement before the citric melodic enterprise of guitar wind around surging riffs. Though there is an immediate urgency to the song it manages to prowl, indeed stalk the listener throughout as Ortiz’s tones harass and arouse. In time the track does throw off its reins and goes for the jugular to only escalate its incitement and the resulting pleasure.

The EP’s title track is next, Inception sidling up to the listener on a web of guitar wiring courted by heavy breaths. Enticement and threat colours every bit of the coaxing, its intrigue generating greater interest and involvement as the instrumental invades, intimates, and then slips away leaving thoughts locked in their own conjuring.

Completed by radio edits of the first two tracks, Inception is a potent and thickly enjoyable introduction to Overt Enemy. They may have a great reputation playing Slayer tracks but if this EP is a sign of things to come they will be breeding one just as strong for their own invention.

The Inception EP is available now @