Get The Shot is a hardcore band from Quebec that had success with their previous record "Infinite Punishment", honoured with a "metal album of the year" at an event that rewards emerging artists from Quebec. The musicians build their music on the border between hardcore and thrash, with fast and scathing riffs. "Infinite Punishment" has been noticed for its hard-hitting compositions and the bleak social statement it makes. The newcomer, "Merciless Destruction", is heavy and uncompromising, always crossed by the questioning of the social context that exacerbates the split between individuals.
Even though they are labelled hardcore, the band is not stingy with melodies and variations. They start their record with a sticky atmosphere, then a storm descends on the track when the rhythm becomes overwhelming. A few melodic lines soothe the furnace, while the voice roars from the depths of the abyss of 'Ultimate Warfare'. 'Season Of The Damned' stands in stark contrast to the tone of the record with its haunting guitar melody, pure arpeggios and soothing voice. A solitary guitar bursting with wah wah and beautiful melodies completes the sweet picture. This is a very successful track which, although it contrasts with the album, delivers a beautiful and sincere emotion.
However, the fury is still there: the speed of 'Seeds Of Dissension' disturbs the heaviness of the record and leads to almost Thrash territories, between heaviness and nervous accelerations. 'Reign In Blasphemy' oscillates between heaviness and speed, bringing the band closer to metalcore, fond of breakdowns. Finally, 'Deathbound' is based on a square hardcore structure where the voices answer each other and where a few melodic phrases struggle to attenuate a rage worthy of Rage Against The Machine, barely disturbed by a few variations.
"Merciless Destruction" is a good album without frills and sprinkled with a few melodies, where simplicity and communicative energy are the key words. The hardcore compositions are mixed with pronounced Thrash influences and metalcore heaviness. But Get The Shot could have escaped from the precise straitjacket of the style, given free rein to its madness and cultivated its crazy aspect. Which is rarely the case... too bad!