Metal Allegiance – Metal Allegiance Review

Released by: Nuclear Blast Records

Release Date: September 18th, 2015

Genre: Metal

Links: http://www.metalallegiance.com

The tracklisting for Metal Allegiance is:

1. Gift Of Pain (Vocals: D. Randall Blythe Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson
Drums:Mike Portnoy Additional Lead Guitar: Gary Holt)

2. Let Darkness Fall (Vocals: Troy Sanders Lead, Rhythm & Acoustic Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson Drums & Percussion: Mike Portnoy Additional Bass: Mark Menghi & Rex Brown Additional Screams: D. Randall Blythe)

3. Dying Song (Vocals: Philip H. Anselmo Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: Mark Menghi
Drums:Mike Portnoy)

4. Can’t Kill The Devil (Vocals: Chuck Billy Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson
Drums:Mike Portnoy Additional Lead Guitar: Phil Demmel & Andreas Kisser)

5. Scars (Vocals: Mark Osegueda & Cristina Scabbia Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass:David Ellefson Drums: Mike Portnoy)

6. Destination: Nowhere (Vocals: Matthew K. Heafy Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson
Drums:Mike Portnoy Additional Lead Guitar: Matthew K. Heafy)

7. Wait Until Tomorrow (Vocals: dUg Pinnick & Jamey Jasta Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson Drums, Percussion & Additional Vocals: Mike Portnoy)

8. Triangulum
I. Creation
II. Evolution
III. Destruction
(Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson Drums: Mike Portnoy Additional Lead Guitar: Misha Mansoor, Ben Weinman, Charlie Benante, Phil Demmel, Matthew K. Heafy
& Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal)

9. Pledge Of Allegiance (Vocals: Mark Osegueda Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson
Drums:Mike Portnoy Additional Lead Guitar: Charlie Benante, Gary Holt & Andreas Kisser)

10. We Rock (Deluxe Edition Only) (Vocals: Mark Osegueda, Chris Jericho, Tim “Ripper” Owens, Alissa White-Gluz, Chuck Billy & Steve “Zetro” Souza Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson
Drums:Mike Portnoy Additional Lead Guitar: Andreas Kisser, Phil Demmel & Gary Holt)

“It is very unnerving to be proven wrong, particularly when you are really right and the person who is really wrong is proving you wrong and proving himself, wrongly, right.” ? Lemony Snicket, The Blank Book

When I caught wind of the inception of Metal Allegiance on the Motorhead Motorboat in 2014, I immediately thought “all star cash grab” to take the place of the missing Mustaine. Was I Ever Wrong. I admit I’d become jaded with these “supergroups” getting together, getting my hopes up and then handing me something that smells of ego or too much management interference. Well, I guess its time for something a little different.

Metal Allegiance is a musical collective celebrating the one thing that they/we all love.  Thrash. The Tri Facta Team of Portnoy, Skolnick and Ellefson to create the foundation of these 9 little gems of headbanger candy is pure genius. The open creative door policy of Metal Allegiance is something that metal fans only dream about.

From the moment Randy Blythe begins tearing apart Gift of Pain – I realize I have stumbled upon some mesh where my past has finally caught up to my present and I can hear the future.  The appearance of  Mastadonian Troy Sanders on the triple bass attack of Let Darkness Fall is a welcome surprise.  The word of the day is HEAVY. The Metal Allegiance line up covers so many eras it truly is a history lesson for all ages.

Uncle Phil even showed up to pledge allegiance and create Dying Song.  That’s gotta mean something. Every song on this album just gets heavier and more amazing.  Reminding me of times when my sore neck didn’t matter and losing my voice was a good thing.

Wait Until Tomorrow is a standout for me. dUg Pinnick is the amazing new blip on my radar.  His haunting and clear voice fits this song like a glove.  The added Jasta effect is the icing on the cake. After an onslaught of alien like musicianship on Triangulum, we, the loyal listener, are asked by everyone’s favourite angel (besides Farrah Fawcett) to pledge allegiance under the flag of Metal Allegiance?

I for one say YES! Metal Allegiance, thank you from the bottom of my heart for proving me wrong and please continue to do so!

Sidenote: My favourite track only appears on the deluxe version so my suggestion would be to splurge. Let’s just put it this way. Dio is smiling  somewhere.

Written by: Marianne Jacobsen

Ratings: Marianne   8/10

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