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Hitten was formed in 2011 and this is the second full-length by the Spanish quintet from Murcia. The band belongs to the great movement known as "New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal" (NWOTHM) and borrows elements from acts such as Riot V and early Iron Maiden.

Mixing speed and virtuosity, the band manages to deliver a catchy and fun album with bits of heavier passages like "Can't Bring Me Down" which has a cool Hammerfall-esque beginning, and faster tunes like opener "Wrong Side of Heaven" and the title track, "State of Shock". There's a little bit of everything in terms of traditional and Speed Metal, from more mid-paced tunes to full-blown fast tracks, so the replay factor is high and the listening experience never becomes dull; the riffs are plenty, the attitude is badass and Aitor Navarro's vocals are highly entertaining. Also, Todd Michael Hall from Riot V makes an appearance as guest vocalist on "Eternal Force", one of the best songs on the album. The production work is well polished and the songwriting is stronger, making the album more memorable than their debut First Strike with the Devil.

Allying melodic choruses, catchy riffs and high-end solos, State of Shock easily stands out from the rest and definitely deserves our attention. Fans of Ambush, Riot V, Enforcer, Striker and the NWOTHM in general will feast on this.