Reviews

Bela Kiss was a Hungarian serial killer in the early 1900's who strangled over 25 women and preserved their bodies in industrial alcohol filled fuel drums. Bela Kiss' own body was never found and local Hungarian's still believe this ageless, predatory man is a demon who haunts and terrorizes his prey on the streets.

The band Bela Kiss, on the other, hand share nothing in common with the serial killer besides a name and a haunting rage that fills the ears of those listening to The Horde, the band's fury-filled 7-song EP. The metalcore quintet from Long Island, NY has successfully released an EP chock full of chaotic, grindcore breakdowns with a heart pounding, hardcore edge.

The Horde showcases Nick Prainito's widespread vocal range, switching from intense metal style growling to heart tightening screams and emotional, fiery crooning. On "Boy I Owe You One," Prainito's voice is taut, pulling and stretching his range with concise effort as he belts out moody lyrics. The guitar breakdowns are executed with skills ranging from clean, expert precision to a more ferocious metal and grindcore style. Fusing different elements of hardcore with grind make this track passionate and vengeful.

"Relive the Shakes of 1980" opens up with a howling Prainito's belting out lyrics that are both chilling and intense to listen to. "Pennsylvania Don't Front" provides more screams and howls for the most part, but Prainito throws in a few sing along lyrics that blend in perfectly with the heavy bass lines and blaring drumbeats.

For more melodic screamo type singing, "The Slopes" comes through with a destructive harness of perfectly timed guitar breakdowns and intense, emotional tongue twisting wails. "Oh Symmetry" is another track that starts off with powerful screams and concentrated hardcore beats. The lyrics on "Oh Symmetry" are surprisingly a little lighter and love fixed than "The Slopes," which tells of deceit and revenge.

While the lyrics of "Lights! Camera! Action!" ties in symbolic images with everyday figures of speech, Prainito's vocals seem to fall off, becoming a bit whiny and whimpery. However, his powerful screams and a grindcore breakdown towards the middle and end of the track turn the mood of the song around and make you want to start a fight in the mosh pit.

Considering this EP is pretty short (the title track, "The Horde," is purely instrumental), it satisfies any listener looking for a fiery, tumultuous mix of metal and grind breakdowns. Bela Kiss touches a whole new market of metalcore and they're just what fans are looking for to satisfy the sane and insane parts of our lives.