Company: Leviathan Release: 2015 Genre: Traditional Reviewer: Eric Compton
All Hail the King
There couldn't have been a better album title for Chastain's new album. 'We Bleed Metal' is a triumphant call to glory for what amounts to be the band's tenth album to date in a thirty year career. This one follows the successful "comeback" record of 2013, 'Surrender to No One', and once again pairs proverbial rock goddess Leather Leone with neo-classical shredder David Chastain. It's all do-it-yourself with David producing, mixing, mastering and distributing via his Leviathan brand. Fans of this "against the grain" metal approach should find plenty to love about the record. The rousing title track is a mid-tempo groove that's punctuated by Leather's high registered vocals over some sporadic double-bass. "Against All the Gods" is a riveting number that proves to be one of the heavier cuts of the album, a start-stop rhythm that permeates with Leather's "…we are fighting" call to arms. Chastain's signature shredding is evident on wise tale "Don't Trust Tomorrow" while "All Hail the King" is slightly European in its anthem unity. My favorite track is the apocalyptic chill of "The Last Ones Alive" complete with a little acoustic intro that builds into a grand crescendo four minutes in. With so many sub-genres sprouting everywhere it is certainly a blessing that bands like Chastain exist as solid awe-inspiring monuments to true heavy metal. All Hail the King.
