Maximum Metal Rating Legend

These guys play some pretty odd traditional metal. This new EP features tons of NwOBHM stylings, you know...twin guitar, melody, quick timing changes, precise skin bashing...but the vocalist isn't like Bruce. He's certainly not like Rob. He's not even like...well..a clean singer. He sort of just shouts whatever he is saying on this release.

Its pretty odd stuff if you think about it. The music hits me just fine, with my heart deeply suited to this traditional sound. But these vocals are just shouted one step away from hardcore, leaning heavily to the Dismember rumblings of old, or even venturing into valleys of Crowbar and Messiah AD. Not much really happening at the mike here. Lets talk about the songs...

Opener "Empty Sky" suits up nicely, with new wave sensations and a nice pattern of rythmic pounding. You know how I feel about the vocals so we will move past that. Next track "Into The Malstrom" plunges on like Maiden meets bad vocals (sorry I just can't let it go). This is pretty decent fare here musically, with plenty of good harmony to soothe the listener. "Horrorshow" kicks off with a nice little acoustic medley and frolics on with a heavy hit of Gothenburg themed malice. Nothing much I can really say here, just alot of bad vocals. "The Killingfield" ends this EP with more great guitar playing and a thrash groove that seems to make this track the best of the bunch.

Needless to say this band needs a serious overhaul, mainly in the vocal department. I'm wondering if the production might help his pipes a little. Why continue with this vocalist? Please guys, lets take the listener into effect when creating this stuff.

1. Empty Sky
2. Into The Maelstrom
3. Horrorshow
4. The Killingfield