HANDS OF GOD return after months of touring to deliver a two-song promo tape via Flatspot Records. The two tracks feature a healthy dose of death metal riffage interspersed with the heavy metallic hardcore assault that the band has become known for.
Lyrically, vocalist Jeffrey Wang tackles pertinent social themes like mob justice, character assassination, and mutually assured destruction. “Two Shotz” opens the promo with a violent crescendo showcasing crushing dual guitars, which eventually dive-bomb their way into an off-kilter groove and resolve with a resounding chorus that clears the ground for guest vocals from Elliot Morrow of California hardcore allies Gulch.
The creative and cohesive songwriting demonstrated on “Two Shotz” continues with “Murdering of Souls,” a riff-heavy screed against trial by public opinion which begins with a sample from Twelve Angry Men. Throughout the song’s three minute run-time, the band does justice to their death metal influence, with chugging and squealing guitars that only rest on their path of destruction for a short bass break à la early Cannibal Corpse. Thanks to recording and mixing work at The Pit in Van Nuys from Taylor Young (Nails, Twitching Tongues) and mastering from Brad Boatright at Audiosiege in Portland, Oregon, both tracks strike a unique balance between hardcore-style aggression and death metal sonics that only HANDS OF GOD is delivering in today’s heavy music landscape.
HANDS OF GOD will embark on an East Coast run of shows alongside hardcore heavy-hitters Gulch and Drain this week. See the full list of dates below:
w/ Gulch + Drain
9/13/19 — Hingham, MA — Sons of Italy
9/14/19 — Wallingford, CT — Wamleg
9/15/19 — Oakdale, NY — Shakers Pub
9/16/19 — Philadelphia, PA — The Pharmacy
9/17/19 — Baltimore, MD — The Sidebar
9/18/19 — Chapel Hill, NC — Local 506
9/19/19 — Columbia, SC — The Soda Live
9/20/19 — Chattanooga, TN — The Spot
9/21/19 — Louisville, KY — Riot Skate Park
Formed in 2016, HANDS OF GOD draws members of a wide array of acts from across the San Jose region together, including former players in Bad Times Crew, current members of Vamachara, Gulch, Drain, Lead Dreams, and more. Rising from their collective surroundings and experiences, the members coalesce their talents in this outfit, delivering a pure hardcore experience with a metallic outer shell.
HANDS OF GOD delivers a call to action that if you turn a blind eye to the negativity in the world you are only lying to yourself, motivating listeners to live to stand up for their convictions and crush anything in that path. Influenced by the likes of Stigmata, All Out War, Dying Fetus, Merauder, Sepultura, and other brutal metal/hardcore outfits, the band has self-released a demo and several singles before being signed to Flatspot Records in 2019 with the release of Blueprint For Self Destruction.
