Review by Jeger on September 15, 2024.

Still haven’t listened to Get The Shot? Well, that’s why men like myself are here; to make sure you kids get all your vitamins. It doesn’t get much better or more brutal than this extinction-level event that has befallen us. On October 7, 2022, Get The Shot set loose upon the scene something I can only describe as a pure envy-inducing metallic hardcore album in Merciless Destruction. Few bands within the genre are doing it better right now and everyone knows it. Not even fair. And it appears that artists in the know are actually lining up to be a part of the proverbial action. Guest contributions to “Merciless” feature the mighty Lionheart’s Rob Watson in 'Deathbound', Nasty’s Matthias Tarnath in 'Bloodbather', Peer Pressure’s Victoria Mladenovski in 'Reign In Blasphemy' and Northwalk’s David Plante in 'Blind To Peace'. All noteworthy contributions made to these diabolical breakdown-laden cuts. 

With so much more to offer than just series upon series of grooves and breaks, Get the Shot get the circle pits fired up with relentless metal and core-inspired riffs throughout this heavier-than-steel, intimidator of a record. First blood is drawn with “Ultimate Warfare”. Hellraiser-worshipping brutality here - kicking things off proper with bat-to-the-gut breakdowns set to primitive rhythms - legendary suffering with no mercy to be found, and it’s only the beginning… A true lesson in savagery coming by way of the aforementioned “Deathbound” as magnum caliber onslaughts of pit-bull-spirited breakdowns make it clear as to who’s running the game right now. 

This is no street-level hardcore record. Not that there’s anything wrong with old-school Madball or Subzero, but “Merciless Destruction” happens to be a different beast altogether. Truly epic from the cover art all the way down to the quieter yet still-impactful “Diabolus Vobiscum” - a rare hardcore ode to The Devil and a proper mood-setter for the legion-annihilating “Divination of Doom” - a no bullshit, straight for the jugular weapon of a track that rips you violently from the realm of infernal revelry back into the circle pit for two more bold, genre-spanning chapters that push the limits of brutishness and imagination. 

Exactly what the scene needs right now. Get the Shot deliver a full spectrum hardcore experience bolstered by a no shame approach to slathering on with a thickness the very elements of style and sound that make the genre great along with that whole Satanic, end-of-days tribulation vibe that’s become something more and more exclusive to this band with each one of their releases - a concept well built upon with music that transcends the established norm while at the same time honoring and even elevating hardcore pride to exciting, new and rarely explored levels.

Rating: 9 out of 10