Hatchet Awaiting Evil Blue Vinyl Edition

M-Theory Audio will be reissuing “Awaiting Evil,” the 2008 debut album from Bay Area modern thrashers Hatchet, on colored vinyl. The upcoming release will mark the first-time appearance of the record on vinyl. The album, which was originally released by Metal Blade Records, received praise upon its release for its “catchy galloping style” from The Metal Crypt. Then-Hatchet vocalist Marcus Kirchen was applauded by Sputnik Music for delivering his performance with “a fast and furious vocal style that fits this type of music perfectly,” and guitarist Julz Ramos was praised by Blabbermouth for his “seriously shredding leads.” Hatchet was formed in 2006 by teenagers that shared a mutual love for the bands that built their hometown Bay Area metal scene two decades prior. Bands such as Testament, Exodus, and the early work of then-Bay Area transplants Metallica infused the initial blueprint that informed Hatchet's sound. The band however forged their own path thanks to layering in guitar melodies that were inspired by other classic heavy metal acts such as Iron Maiden and adding an additional layer of technicality to stand out from the competitive pack of modern bands seeking inspiration from the greats of thrash metal's yesteryear. Three demos and a couple compilation appearances garnered the attention of Metal Blade Records, who put the band in Grizzly Studios with Roger Tschann Saviours, Tiger Army, Tsunami Bomb) to record the young thrashers debut. The same Sputnik Music review that praised Kirchen's vocal performance also noted that Hatchet “don't really sound like a rip-off of their influences but rather they are just five dudes rocking out and putting everything into their music.”