hitbox have released a long-awaited debut LP entitled Labor Vita, Necesse Mori.
Not confined to any one genre, the best way to describe hitbox is violent, menacing, and out for blood. The devastation can immediately be felt no matter what track you throw on; in Labor Vita, Necesse Mori, the short, controlled bursts of chaos emanate in tracks like “Devoid of Pulse” and “Bruised Skin”. Lyricism that goes for the throat and a frenetic vocal delivery are complimented by an onslaught of blast beats, thrashing riffs, and breakdowns so heavy it’s almost an auditory overload.
Basing the album on a Baroque painting by Salvator Rosa, the translation of “Life is toil, Death a necessity” rings true for hitbox’s record. With production from nightlife‘s Hansel Romero and the band themselves, the band is at peak form from start to finish. We also get some features from Hansel themselves on “Materialist” as well as Ballista/Mantikore/Trachetomy’s Nick Corcillo on “In Service of…” to make for even more exciting moments.
I think hitbox is on to something truly special within Labor Vita, Necesse Mori – it’s a mission statement as much as it is a solid-as-hell heavy record. The crossover appeal reaches from hardcore to powerviolence to even cybergrind, and the umbrella reaches even farther than that at times. It’s not too late to pop this one on and reconsider your album of the year list.
