Angel Martyr - Black Book: Chapter One

Artist: Angel Martyr
Release Title: Black Book: Chapter One
Year: 2017
Label: Iron Shield Records
Genre: Epic Heavy/Speed Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Obsequies
2. They... Among Us
3. Victims
4. Eric the Conqueror
5. Midnight Traveller
6. Turn On the Fire
7. Pirate Song
8. On the Divine Battlefield
9. Angel Martyr

Formed initially back in 2006, Italian heavy/speed metallers Angel Martyr changed to their current moniker from Wraith’sing and set about to forge ahead with their love of old-school heavy metal as the band toured relentlessly honing their attack into a lethal assault. Now finally able to unleash their first official offering, the bands’ full-length debut was released March 17, 2017 on Iron Shield Records.

Taking their cues from the past, the group offers a rather impressive and convincing manner of attack that gives off the tone and feel of the old-school classics. There’s a strong semblance of classic speed metal riff-work throughout here, bouncing along at breakneck tempos that keep this one at a rather engaging pace throughout here which makes for quite a fantastic feeling here. This makes the music light and melodic while allowing for plenty of epic arrangements alongside the tight speed metal sections, working nicely here to make this rather enjoyable and fun as the heavier sections are still displayed prominently alongside the lighter sections that provide the fine melodic accents and furthering the steps into the old-school style. Given that the album does tend to go for the longer, more involved tracks here, that becomes all the more important to give these sections room to breathe and grow as the extended time allows for more arrangements to be included here, although that introduces the one main lowering factor with this one in that there’s just not a whole lot that can be done with how these drag on and feels overlong. The riffing looses a lot of its power noodling along at these extended lengths, the sections get drawn out more than needed and the album tends to slough along until the end which can make for a draining experience. However, being a debut this does get a bit of leeway and doesn’t hold this back all that much.

Though it can get a little bloated and features some rather troubling segments, there’s plenty of highly enjoyable efforts to like with this one’s old-school influenced attack that it should readily appeal to all fans of classic heavy/speed metal or those looking for solid classic metal in general.

score: 84/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
http://www.ironshieldrecords.de/angel-martyr-2017.html

Metal Witch - Tales from the Underground

Artist: Metal Witch
Release Title: Tales from the Underground
Year: 2016
Label: Iron Shield Records
Genre: Traditional Heavy Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Cheers to the Underground
2. Flute of Shame
3. God Save the Heroes
4. Heavy and Roll
5. Standing in My Way
6. Stay True
7. Still Going Strong
8. The Heart of England
9. The Man Who Shouldn't Live
10. Weapons of the Night

One of the country’s original pioneers, German metallers Metal Witch continue to enjoy their newfound exposure after reuniting as the long-time proponents of pure Teutonic heavy metal continue to lead the way with their enjoyable style. As the eight-year gap has seen original member Dietmar Hanke quit the band and new guitarist Lorenz Hoppe join up, the group releases its sophomore album October 7, 2016 on Iron Shield Records.

Almost immediately, it’s clear that the band is adept at displaying fiery, raucous old-school metal style with a traditional flair for the rhythms and melodies. This one is mostly about energetic riffing full of crunchy, NWOBHM-influenced melodies which run the gamut of tempos from wild, raucous up-tempo patterns to a more controlled mid-tempo style that opts for a sing-a-long style series of works which are still incredibly fun throughout here. Featuring this stylistic type of attack here works nicely in generating a varied type of approach which is quite an impressive throwback to the traditional sounds of the genre yet still opts for a modern vitality that gives this the kind of overall appeal needed for such an otherwise one-note performance here. While on the surface it’s a nicely balanced and enjoyable enough with this type of ferocious blast of an attack, there’s little else about this one that really makes it stick out here being based on overly familiar tropes of the type of ferocious one-note performances here or the simplistic anthemic track that slows down the tempos into a mid-range charge. Though that might be enjoyable for some out there there’s little else on offer here for those that don’t like that particular style, even with the rather impressive professionalism displayed on the tracks.

Though there’s a slight issue of identity crisis here which comes from this one note really doing much else beyond its core approach of admittedly enjoyable and competently played tracks, that’s not nearly enough to hold back those enjoyable elements for fans of traditional German-flavored heavy metal or classic metal in general.

Score: 86/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://musicbuymail.com/en/shop/cd/metal-witch-tales-from-the-underground-cd

Reactory - High on Radiation

Artist: Reactory
Release Title: High on Radiation
Year: 2014
Label: Iron Shield Records
Genre: German Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Shell Shock
2. Spreading Brutality
3. Viral Overdrive
4. Kingdom of Sin
5. The Raid
6. Metal Invasion
7. A.B.C. Warfare
8. Orbit of Theia
9. Blasphemous Attitude

Initially formed in 2010, German thrashers Reactory quickly took their influences of American and European thrash acts from the 80s and have used those influences to carve a feral, rabid path of destruction through the underground. Following the replacement of original drummer Stachu Crash with Cauê Santos, the group prepares it’s full-length debut released March 14, 2014 on Iron Shield Records.

As is expected on an album as this, there’s the fact that the band is going through the rabid riff-work and charging patterns typically found in the German variety of thrash metal. The deep, jagged riffing and angular arrangements that often-times recall primitive black metal with their heavy churning patterns yet are still able to maintain the type of furious intensity in the main rhythms that became popular in the country’s acts in the first place. This produces a far more vicious and engaging energy here with the chugging patterns typified by this type of simplistic and hard-hitting brand of thrashing that goes for the more one-note approach than what is usually featured in the genre. By going for this strong mixture of churning ferocious thrash off-set by the more one-note chug-heavy secondary tactic there’s a rather impressive tight, confined atmosphere here that works incredibly well at displaying the old-school German wave of the genre while still opting for a more traditional style of dexterous, dynamic soloing that recalls the US school of attack. It’s all competent and engaging as a whole with this type of rabid approach yet the album runs into a sense of familiar far too often here as the band does go for the old-school German approach without much deviation and that tends to make this a wholly familiar and one-note effort. This is all typically well-played German-style worship for the most part, and doesn’t really offer up enough variety in this approach to really give itself much of a voice in the crowded field of imitators utilizing these elements. This is what tends to bring this one down somewhat.

Though there’s a few minor elements of identity crises to be found here which is to be expected with a band’s debut offering, there’s still enough to find engaging here with the powerful, competent performances and infectious enthusiasm managing to overrule the familiarity and make this a solid choice for German thrash aficionados or any fan of old-school or revivalist thrash in general.

Score: 88/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://reactory.bandcamp.com/album/high-on-radiation

Rampart - Codex Metalum

Artist: Rampart
Release Title: Codex Metalum
Year: 2016
Label: Iron Shield Records
Genre:Power/Traditional Heavy Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Apocalypse or Theater
2. Diamond Ark
3. The Metal Code
4. Sacred Anger
5. Of Nightfall
6. Into the Rocks
7. Colours of the Twilight
8. Crown Land
9. Majesty (Blind Guardian cover)

Not usually known for its traditional metal acts, Bulgarian heavy metal act Rampart have nonetheless cranked out an impressive catalog of singles and full-length albums, as well as the odd compilation appearance, on their way to this newest release. The fourth full-length from the group, out April 8, 2016 on Iron Shield Records, continues to cater to their traditional mind-set by delivering another enjoyable release in their catalog.

This here is nicely traditionalist-leaning classic metal in their riff-work, full of tight churning rhythms offering plenty of crunchy patterns and steady, solid rhythms that make for a truly enjoyable ode to the heavyweights of the classic period of the early 80s. The numerous tempo and pace changes on display feature some interesting and enjoyable variations with the band able to change-over into steady, simplistic riff-work or a slightly more up-tempo gallop that doesn’t quite border on thrash but offers that kind of energy and cadence when off-set by the churning rhythm work featured elsewhere here. As well, like most classic metal offerings there’s ripping, fiery soloing and plenty of tight, pounding drum-work on display throughout here that makes this quite fun as well with the more spindly, melodic leads found throughout here as there’s a slew of simplistic rhythms here featuring those melodies running alongside the harder-hitting riffing here. This all leaves the album well-enough if not exactly all that original, though what really tends to hurts this is the light wailing siren-like female vocals that are as an acquired taste as any in the genre. It’s not terrible but it takes getting used to this nasal tone and register over the music as this seemingly cries out for at the very least a gruffer tone than what’s featured here. It works nicely in the context of the music once it gets past the point of familiarity, but overall it’s not so bad.

Though the vocals are something that really hinders this one at times, there’s little else about this one to hold it back here as the sound has enough going on for it that this will undoubtedly appeal to fans of good classic traditional metal as well as those curious about metal from the region on the curiosity factor.

Score: 85/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://www.inferno-records.net/mailorder/cds/rampart-bul-codex-metalum-digi-cd-2016.html