Imagine a group of World of Warcraft orcs summoned into this earthy domain, who then listened to The Black Dahlia Murder and formed a musical group to sing about all things orc. With names like “Gogog Bloodthroat – Vokalz and Power Pretenze”, “Oog Skullbasher- Drumz and other bangings” and “Hulg Elfripper- orc zombie and undead guitars”, you know these guys have their tongues planted firmly in their cheeks and their costumes match their names with all performances and the rather well done video being done in full on Orchish, rather convincing garb.

But as with all of their costumed peers, how is their music? Well, it’s OK. It’s tight and well produced form of modern American metalcore/thrash meets death metal, that would fare decently with or without the Orcish selling point. It’s not great or even too memorable, but it’s pummeling, surprisingly tight and on par with the likes of Through the Eyes of the Dead, The Famine, Graves of Valor and such.

None of the six songs (and one suitably epic intro) are going to convince anyone that this is an act ready to breakthrough to the big leagues, but there’s competence, skill and overall production value that’s as good as anything that Hot Topic pedals (Sumerian Records, Good Fight Music, Artery Recordings etc). I’ve certainly heard far worse from signed, supposed ‘real bands’ than the likes of “I, Gogog”, “Warchief of the Apocalypse” , “Into the Maelstrom” and the rather enjoyable cover of Celtic Frost’s “Procreation of the Wicked”.

Even with this EP being re-promoted,  re-released and re-circulated four years after its original release, A Band of Orcs aren’t going to get by on their music or their Orc gimmick alone, but the solid merging of both makes them a little more intriguing that the cookie cutter assembly line of bands that’s being force fed to metal fans nowadays.