Heavy Metal
Golden Robot Records
Release date – February 21st 2025
Line Up:
Chris James – Vocals
Rick Pierce – Guitar
Izzy Rehaume – Bass
Frankie Rongo – Drums
Tracklist:
Tick Tock
Brick By Brick
Only
Remember The Bataclan
Can You Feel It
Love Hate
A Storm Is Coming
Those of us that were around in the 80’s will remember a superb band called Q5 who put out the phenomenal ‘Steel The Light’ on the Music For Nations label. The band contained former members of TKO and two superb guitarists one of which, Floyd Rose, developed a super duper tremolo system that didn’t knock the guitar out of tune or something. The other guitarist was the equally talented Rick Pierce. Don’t if he invented anything but boy does he know his way around a fretboard.
Here he is with a majestic metal offering that’s got its feet firmly in the NWOBHM. Opener ‘Tick Tock’ is total Q5 with a grinding riff, a solid bassline and great vocal melody line then we get a chug fest on the title track and singer Chris James gives a macho muscular performance as drummer Frankie Rongo drives it along. ‘Only’ brings a dark melody and another superb fluid solo from Pierce then we go back to Q5 with a blues metal similar to ‘Steel The Light’ – ‘Remember The Bataclan’ is a fitting tribute to a terrible night. ‘Can You Feel It’ is a heavy melodic rocker and again highlights the wonderfully masculine voice of Chris James. It’s a simple groove riding along the rhythm and some tidy lines from Pierce. It’s back to the darkness on ‘Love Hate’ with its catchy chorus before the album closer ‘A Storm Is Coming’ which is a proper heavy metal ballad.
Crikey what has Pierce done? Only knocked out seven songs that just show his talent as a performer and a songwriter. The guy can shred with the best of them, but this isn’t showy or flashy everything is for the song. He has recruited well too. The rhythm section of bass player Izzy Rehaume and drummer Frankie Rongo are a perfect fit that just lock into the groove together and singer Chris James is again perfect for the bands sound, singing in lower register. This really is something special so if you like classic metal stick your ‘battle’ jacket on and throw some horns to this, oh and play it loud!!
Written by: Smudge
Ratings: 9/10
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