VENDETTA - TYRANNY OF MINORITY
Lion Music - Out Now

 

Hailing from the industrial wastelands of north east England, Vendetta is a new band formed against a classic metal background.  The band feature a twin guitar line up in Edward Box (who has released 2 strong all instrumental solo albums on Lion Music prior) and Pete Thompson backed up by bassist Gary Foalle with drummer Mick Robson who since the albums released has replaced by fulltime member Lee Lamb.  The vocal slot see Edward Box taking on this role too and his vocals fit well with the music being quite distinct sounding a little like a cross between Mike Patton (Faith No More) along with a slight edge of Don Dokken, good stuff and they take the band outside your typical classic metal wail.

 Musically “Tyranny Of Minority” is all about guitars, guitars and more guitars and anyone that appreciates the likes of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Dokken back in their heyday will instantly find this a very welcome release indeed.  Box and Thompson conjure up cracking riff after cracking riff and the lead work sees duels which are as good as anything metal’s most respected guitar duos have put out – simply said these boys can play.  Those that are asking “yeah but what about the songs?” you will be pleased to learn the tracks are built around strong vocal melodies and infectious choruses which often evoke the best of the likes of Judas Priest (British Steel era), Dokken and Dio  along with shades of Tesla being heard now and again.

 A brief dual guitar harmony motif entitled “Archangel” sets the mood before “Generation Kill” and “I Executioner” are a super powerful double attack of razor riffs, blistering solo trade offs and strong vocal melodies. “Doorways Of The Mind” see a darker vibe enter before the popish metal of “Golden Boy” is classic 80’s hard rock that manages to not sound dated in the least with a great chorus.  “Red Skies” sees the quality dip a little but is home to an excellent lyrical solo from Box.  “Plastic God” sees the metal attack come back in with full vengeance for a Sabbath meets Iron Maiden guitar riff and the chorus is also quite Maiden-ish with a vocal delivery that is pure Rob Halford in a lyrical sense, the track then heads into an instrumental pasture that evokes the spirit of Thin Lizzy yet with an updated attitude before Box and Thompson trade solos almost daring each other to up the ante with each segment which builds to a nice harmonised duel solo, before leading back into another verse. “Bones To Dust” is up-tempo with an almost classic bay area thrash like intensity before the band head back to mid-tempo waters for the dark lyrics of “Lost Cause” which tells the story of losing a friend to alcoholism, the chorus sees Box getting quite emotional in the vocals with a great delivery.  “All Fall Down” has that trademark Judas Priest riffing about it yet it from here that the album dips for the closing duo of “No Safe Hole” and “Window Of The Soul” yet even with this is better than a lot of other bands peddling this genre and doesn’t really diminish the impact the other tracks have made..

 Overall Vendetta have come out the blocks with a for the most part very strong debut and it suggests they have a strong future ahead.  Having seen some live video clips on their website they sounds as good live as they do here on record.  Fans of classic metal would be well advised to check out the band now as you get the feeling things will only get better.     

Rating -85%

 

RESISTANCE - PATENTS OF CONTROL
Lion Music - Out Now

American metallers Resistance return with energetic metal fury on their second full album “Patents Of Control”.  Following on from their debut "Lies In Black" the band have recorded 11 tracks which see the band honing their sound with a tighter, heavier and more focused direction and intensity which has been gained from countless live performances on the US live circuit.  Mixed by none other than Neil Kernon (Queensryche/Nevermore) the sound is tight, focused and brimming with metal fury.

Stylistically the band play metal with some thrash influences and if reference points are needed then combine modern Iced Earth and classic Metallica.  Vocalist Robbie Hett does bring to the band his own flavour like a mix of Tim Owens and Chuck Billy and helps make the band stand out.  As already mentioned this album is a big step up from their debut and is brimming of razor edged riffing and lead work which is never anything less than “Metal”.  The drum work of Matt Ohnemus also gains special praise with his great double bass drum work and fills (managing to avoid many of the done to death fills often heard in this style).  Along with the aforementioned riffs there are some very strong vocal melodies particularly on “One Nation Under God” which is a cracking track in every aspect and album closer “Mirror Black”.  What I particularly liked about this album is that the band do not bow to anything they are not, they know what they are good at and they are make sure you know what they are about across the 11 tracks.

Overall “Patents Of Control” is a solid enjoyable album which should prove to be a stepping stone to a bigger profile and leads to way for a totally killing third album which if the improvement over the the debut to this is anything to go by should be a total scorcher.

Rating – 82%

LIONS SHARE - EMOTIONAL COMA
AFM Records - Out Now

After a six-year break, Swedish melodic metal masters Lions Share have returned with "Emotional Coma". The revamped outfit, which now features singer Patrik Johansson (ASTRAL DOORS, Richard Andersson’s Space Odyssey) and bassist Sampo Axelsson (Glenn Hughes) alongside band mastermind Lars Chriss (guitar) and session/non-touring drummer Richard Evensand (Therion, ex-Chimara,). The new line up continues to produce modern yet vintage sounding heavy metal that revolves around Chriss' thick, power-packed riffs while showcasing Johansson's hauntingly melodic delivery.

The overall feel is of a more sinister Dio, this most likely down to Johansson’s vocals who sounds as menacing as ever here, yet the musical backing is of a suitably high quality to make the comparison justified.  Opener “Cult Of Denial” begins with a delicate twin guitar intro before kicking into gear with some intense mid-tempo riffery.  The production courtesy of Lars Chriss is very good with the guitar sounding very in your face yet not at the expense of other instruments.  “The Arsonist” is a fairly standard double bass drum assault before the (Dio era) Sabbath like groove of the title track brings in a classy air of doom.  “Clones Of Fate” has shades of vintage Judas Priest (think Rapid Fire) particularly in the way the vocals verse melody work with the riff.  “The Edge Of The Razor” is a highlight with just the right mix of light and shade which allows Johansson to open his vocals to full effect.  “Toxication Rave” almost reaches a thrash level of assault in its brutal riff (something Lars Chriss seems in no shortage off) and here the more modern timbres come into play.  “Trafficking” is one of the more original sounding tracks, with a verse riff which is initially quite disjointed yet after a few spins makes sense, yet the chorus lets this one down.  “Bloodstained Soil” is another slowish Sabbath type groove and another highlight, Johansson comes across here very “Dio” in the way he plays with a melody line, throwing accents on certain words to give this great floating feel, more Dehumanizer than Heaven & Hell should give you an idea of where the Sabbath comparison is coming from.  “Soultaker” sees the tempo come back up for a razor sharp riff yet doesn’t really take this great opening anywhere better sadly.  Its not a bad track just not up to the  standard of some of the other tracks on offer.  “Hatred’s My Fuel” is a roaring Euro Metal monster which is more modern sounding once again and it’s a very strong track, with Johansson sounding particularly menacing and Lars delivers his best solo on the album.  The album ends with a cover of Angel Witch’s “Sorcerers” and you have to ask the question why?  Homage is probably the reason yet following the previous track this come across as a weaker track to end the album.

Overall Lions Share have delivered a good album here.  Some may feel their influences are worn a little too obviously at times yet if you can get past it sounding like some of the genre’s legends then it’s a very enjoyable album with strong performances, mostly strong songs and overall it’s sure to find plenty of receptive listeners in the traditional metal fan base.  Give it a try.

Rating – 85%

MARC RIZZO - THE ULTIMATE DEVOTION
Mascot Records - Out Now

Soulfly / Il Nino guitarist Marc Rizzo continues his virtuoso solo career with his newest album "The Ultimate Devotion".  If you enjoyed his first solo album “Colossal Myopia” (reviewed here), you'll find his latest effort an even more rewarding experience largely thanks to better songs and production. The new album is full of Rizzo’s soulful shredding on both electric & acoustic guitars as he sounds like Strunz & Farah as an acoustic shredder & then simply blazes on the electric with arpeggiated lines & deft chordal work.   The influences of flamenco and gypsy-esque acoustic passages are what make this album stand out from the pack adding a nice Mediterranean sound to the proceedings.  This fused with sped and nu-metal tonalities adds flavour and originality yet I still feel it lacks that special something that would tie the collection of tracks together making it a monster in the instrumental field.  If the accompanying PR material it to be believed then Rizzo is gaining new fans all the time and with “The Ultimate Devotion” its likely to see more jump on board – Recommended.

 Rating – 84%

"Better Motörhead Than Dead – Live At Hammersmith" rekindles memories of a momentous night that even a cosmopolitan city like London doesn’t see every day. Early June 2005 saw the long queue in front of the venerable Hammersmith Odeon, a venue of many legendary live shows – stretch right to the tube station on the other side of the road. What was going on? Motörhead had invited their fans to their 30th anniversary party, and over 5,000 of them accepted. Their number would have been even greater had the powers that be in the British capital not rigorously limited the capacity of the illustrious venue. Loved by their fans, respected by the press due to the personal integrity of the three band members, Lemmy Kilmister, Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee, Motörhead were experiencing their seventh or eighth spring in the 30th year of their existence and continued to be as generous as ever.

Spread over 2 CD’s the music is pretty much full tilt from start to finish with the only respites coming in Lemmy’s near enough identical introduction to each song (cue gruff voice, “This is called “insert track name”).  Luckily near enough every track you would want to hear from the back catalogue is here with classics such as “Stay Clean”, “No Class”. “Bomber” and “Killed By Death” sounding better than ever.  The production is warts and all so what went down on the night is exactly what you get here – no bullshit, just a band going for the jugular and one that is as important now in the metal community as they have been at any point in their long career.  If you have yet to sample Motörhead live then buy this, turn it up to 11, forget your blues and enjoy!

Rating – 85%