SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VILE DECREE – HOSTILE

VILE DECREE
HOSTILE
TARANTULA TAPES

Barrie, ON hardcore band, Vile Decree, has returned with their second EP, Hostile. The four-track EP follows the release of their 2023 debut, No Word For Peace, however, to commemorate the launch of their new record, Vile Decree has partnered with Tarantula Tapes to deliver a limited run of cassettes featuring both EPs, creating a full album experience.

The first side of the album is the Hostile EP. The newly released record opens with “Vile Decree Type Beat”, an aggressive track that effectively sets the tone for the rest of the record. While the abrasive tone is amplified through the following song, “The Sound Of Violence”, it is “Put ‘Em On A Shirt”, a collaboration with Prison and Chains of Hate, that shines brightest across the first four songs.  Led by a droning riff and accented by an array of vocals, “Put ‘Em On A Shirt” crawls forward with an unsettling pulse and a truly ominous presence.

The second side opens with “Cyclebreaker”, the first track from No Word For Peace. Immediately, there is a lo-fi approach in the production that makes the track feel muddier. Rather than diminish the track, “Cyclebreaker”, and the rest of the B-side, is far grimier, which only adds to the hardcore aesthetic. From the sludgy dissonance of “Out Of Spite” to the heavy riffs of “Gutter Kings”, No Word For Peace seems more directly influenced by classic thrash, giving the record a unique edge.

All in all, both sides of Hostile make for a stronger album experience, demonstrating a wider range to the songwriting, performance, and influences behind Vile Decree. While being two distinct releases, both Hostile and No Word For Peace serve the other, creating a clearer artistic vision amid the sheer brutality.

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