Company: Self-release Release: 2010 Genre: Traditional Reviewer: Chris Kincaid
Chock full of foot-stomping gems that are laced with machine gun-like riffs
If you haven't heard of SKULL FIST this album will catch your attention and turn you on to their traditional, yet brutal sound.
Sure their name sounds cheesy. It may scare you into thinking they're 80's clones. It may even make you laugh. But formed in 2006 up here in 'The Great White North' more specifically Toronto, Ontario, Canada. SKULL FIST consisting of Jackie Slaughter (Rhythm Guitars), Ken Neilson (Lead Guitars) and Alison Thunderland (Drums) delivers on their just released debut album "Heavier Than Metal". Up to this point they only had a demo called "No False Metal", which shows up here, to hang their hat on.
I have to say that I love finding Metal that echos the 'Old School'. Metal that I can really sink my teeth into and when it comes from my home and native land it's even better. We have so few Metal bands that we can boast about that go on to reach a level of success somewhere else and it usually comes with shades of Pop Rock for that guaranteed mainstream hit blended in (See Helix). Let alone Metal bands that bring to the table the early 80's Metal sound aside from Anvil and Kraken. A sound that comes loaded down with anthemic choruses without compromising at the expense of quality and a never surrender attitude. But these guys are the real deal! Their influences ranging from Loudness to Priest. And they strut it proudly on an album that's chock full of foot-stomping gems that are laced with machine gun-like riffs.
Take for example the track 'Heavier Than Metal' which is by far the best track on the album. It kicks off with a rocking riff before jumping into a mesh of thumping bass, banging drums with a great Metal falsetto in the chorus that screams to the Metal Gods. 'Sign of The Warrior' with it's blistering speed and high pitched vocals that race right to the end. Or 'Ride The Beast' a song that is a shredders delight. And of course I have to mention the track 'Blackout' with it's take no prisoners war cry shreiking out from under layers of thunderous Heavy Metal bliss.
The great thing about bands like this is how they bring in new fans who think it's a trend. To them it's not something they've heard before. It may even lead them down the road to finding the originals who developed this sound. But if it turns them into full fledged Metalheads who really cares when it came out right?
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