December 18, 2010

Heavy Artillery simply destroys my ears each and every time I pop one of their bands into my stereo. From Spellcaster to Evil Survives, the torch is ever aflame and passed onto Richmond’s Volture, who blistered my eardrums and literally kicked in my sternum. These smaller, unassuming bands with EP’s and mini-LP’s are literally destroying any reservations about an old sound being dated or boring.

From the opening track “Volture” the first band that hit me was Europe due to the vocals, and before you flame me incessantly Europe was quite a solid band with a pretty good NWOBHM sound going for them before commerciality hit with The Final Countdown album in 1986. It’s sort of like Europe meshing with Angel Witch; the riffs are so steel-toed and heavy that the kick to the face is not only expected, but welcomed. This brand new NWOBHM explosion happening at a record pace is exciting, and it’s even harder to believe that the bands doing it to such perfect measures are usually American or Swedish! With such tremendous music calling on the old guard for inspiration it’s only a matter of time before we come full circle and revisit our past glories. 

Vocalist Brent Hubbard does channel Joey Tempest in certain areas, there’s no question about that, but please don’t let that deter you; Hubbard is hitting high notes in all of the right areas, all the while changing up the tones in songs like “Cheap Thrillz”, which might appear to be some joke track or glam throwback, but it’s anything but, my friends! The song is a plowing tank assault into your head with fantastic guitar work and bass/drum sounds that are so usually ignored or under-produced. Nothing cliché lies within these notes or chord changes; the early 80’s sound is once more permeating the core of our scene and massaging the brains of all the latecomers and those unfortunate enough to have been born too late for the original run. This is yet another band that is going to make a run for the glory of the old school sound. Even the song “Heathen’s Revenge” calls upon the Satanic forces of yesterday much like Angel Witch or Witchfynde might have, yet not to the degree of shtick-over-interpretation of Venom. From the slower grooves to the lightning-fast solos, Shocking Its Prey is a must-hear from one hell of a label. 

I simply can’t get over how important Heavy Artillery has become in the underground of metal, and I implore you to check out their stable of artists on its roster. The arsenal they’re amassing is going to be dangerous in the coming months, and that you can quote me on at this sitting. I’ll be ordering this vinyl soon as well!

Release Date: January 25th, 2011
Label: Heavy Artillery Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Volture
2.  Heavy Metal Machine
3.  The Horde
4.  Night Walker
5.  Cheap Thrillz
6.  Heathens Revenge

Total playing time:  21:49

*By clicking "Submit" you agree to the following Terms of Use. You agree not to post any material that is obscene, slanderous, or threatening, or that may violate any law of your country of origin or the United States or of international law. Should you wish to restrict viewing of your email address by third parties, you must select "Hide My Email." You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Metal Psalter from any claims, actions, suits, damages, or other costs arising out of any breach of these Terms of Use.

*Comments:

Volture - Shocking Its Prey

Reviewer: Chris