Hod doesn't stand for anything, as the band is constantly having to remind people. It comes from the Anglicized spelling of the Norse god Hodur, but with the Hod logo being rendered in three upper cased letters fans seem to want it to be an acronym of some sorts. Nope. The band stand for something, sure, but their name sure as hell doesn't.
Book of the Worm is kind of a long time coming. Punters may recall The Uncreated Demo coming out a little over a year ago, but that was little more than a stopgap reminder that the band still existed, and all three of its tracks are reprised and fleshed out here. Having a hard enough time finding proper recording resources in the band's hometime of San Antonio, Texas, Hod finally landed Solstice member Daniel Munoz to produce their follow up to 2009's Serpent (itself a more or less demo-quality recording) when their label, Ibex Moon, unceremoniously went under.
Now signed to Florida label Arctic Music Group, Hod are finally getting a proper welcome into the metal overground. Book of the Worm is not a pristine recording, nor was it intended to be, but Munoz's production does bring out a more well rounded, versatile ensemble than those murkier early recordings evinced. Vocalist Vladibeer Reebs (I was disappointed when I noticed I'd misread "Vladlibber") displays a lot more versatility here than the fairly uniform grunts on Serpent and the earlier demos, and Dennis Sanders' drumming is on sharper display here, even if it could have been afforded a bit more low end. Similarly, Trans Am's bass work complements Sanders well as an astute rhythm section, but you find yourself straining at times to hear it.
The band itself has evolved in recent years too, though, with the slower, more atmosphere-driven sound of a half-decade ago having gradually given way to a more uptempo, ragged old school thrash attack. Possessed and Celtic Frost are now more familiar touchstones than anything overtly death metal, and to that end guitarist Carl "Necron" Snyder has established himself as Hod's ace in the hole, his blistering, spirited riffing on songs like "Where Are the Demons" and "I am Destroyer" buoying the band's sound in new ways that weren't really present on Serpent-era material.
With potent songcraft and an upswing in career momentum, Book of the Worm at long last establishes Hod as a beacon in the blackened thrash underground.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgJDpU4dydg[/youtube]
