Ep Review: Nordic Hamster” The Battle for Christmas”
Nordic
Hamster’s The Battle For Christmas EP is the kind of unhinged holiday
experiment that shouldn’t work on paper but in execution, it hits with
surprising brilliance. The Orlando, Florida progressive-metal duo, comprised of
Cody Nordine (vocals) and Cody Hamilton (guitar), have spent years shaping
their identity, evolving from a purely instrumental guitar project into a
vocal-driven powerhouse with storytelling chops. Lifelong friends, full-time
dads, and part-time riff machines, their chemistry is palpable across the
record, grounding even the wildest moments in authenticity.
Presented
by RME and released under Indian River Music Company (IRMC), the EP embraces
its Christmas theme without ever diluting the band’s metallic DNA. What stands
out immediately is the production: clean, punchy, and genuinely excellent.
Rather than sounding like a novelty metal project, the mix feels intentional
and polished, giving every bell chime, atmospheric pad, and brutal breakdown
the space it deserves. The sonic quality is so strong that the EP actually feels
like a real Christmas record, one recorded in a winter realm where djent
grooves and deathcore growls are holiday traditions. The ambiance is
convincingly festive, capturing that classic Christmas EP warmth and wonder,
only amplified to arena-sized drama. It doesn’t mimic Christmas—it inhabits
it.
Tracks like “Fill My Stocking” blend mischievous energy with progressive complexity, while the EP’s centerpiece delivers theatrical momentum and narrative flair, proving that Nordic Hamster understand pacing, tension, and payoff. Their riffs are razor-edged and colossal, shifting through intricate time signatures yet always returning to hooks that stick like melted sugar on a holiday tray. Nordine’s vocals bring personality and emotional direction, while Hamilton’s guitar orchestrations act as both battlefield and soundtrack.
Ultimately,
The Battle for Christmas is more than a concept; it’s an atmosphere. One
built with skill, sincerity, and humor that never tips into parody. Loud,
technical, festive, and ridiculously fun, this EP proves that progressive metal
still has room to surprise, even under a Christmas tree glowing in distortion.
Nordic Hamster (@nordic_hamster) • Photos et vidéos Instagram
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