Hard Rock
Adrenalizing Media Network
Release Date – November 14th 2025
Line Up:
Tommy Bolan – Vocals/Guitar
Steve Unger – Bass
Stet Howland – Drums
Tracklist:
Heavy As Hell
Twisted
United
Tired Of Smiling
Lyin’ Eyes
Let’s Roll (40 Brave)
Central Park
Fight
Full Tilt
Highway To Nowhere
Gasoline
244
Built To Destroy
Well, here’s a thing and a very welcome surprise. Tommy Bolan the axeman that did Warlock’s legendary ‘Triumph And Agony’ has roped in a couple of mates, basically Metal Church’s awesome rhythm section of Steve Unger (bass) and Stet Howland (drums) for a very angry and aggressive power trio. Bolan is a New York native so calling it N.Y.C is a masterstroke coz if you’ve ever been there, it’s noisy, dirty, angry with a real bad attitude – just like the music on this record.
Opener ‘Heavy As Hell’ does what it says on the tin. Bolan gives it the beans on a proper metal riff and that rhythm section are just locked in on a powerful groove. Bolan also flexes his vocal cords on this record. It’s a powerful masculine voice and when he tells you about yourself, you’d better listen. He hasn’t lost the ability to shred either. Jeez, there’s some blinding axework on this number alone. ‘Twisted’ has a proper nasty riff and Under hits those strings hard providing a solid groove and kind of reminds me of another NYC legend in Prong. It’s loud and aggressive and ready to fight! ‘United’ is a real stomper before the spidery riff of ‘Tired Of Smiling’ gives way to a chugging beast that comes on like a heavier Alice Cooper. Bolan picks up the acoustic for the intro to ‘Lyin’ Eyes’ which is a dark ballad and shows another side of his voice. Crikey, ‘Lets Roll (40 Brave)’ has an industrial feel with some synths and another chugging riff along with Bolan’s vicious vocal. The sound of thunder and sirens is broken by the sweet folky acoustic for the instrumental ‘Central Park’ then it’s time for ‘Fight’ which gallops along on some proper power metal. ‘Full Tilt’ yep you guessed it goes like the title – another raucous racket that’s almost thrash then we get the jagged ‘Highway To Nowhere’ which brings shades of Prong again before the acoustic comes out for ‘Gasoline’ which has an eastern flavour. ‘244’ brings the power metal again with Howland laying it down and Bolan providing some squally synths as well as another mighty riff. We get the title track to close which really does the job.
This is fantastic. Real metal played by real metal men. Hide the women, the weak and infirm because these boys are coming and they ain’t taking any prisoners. Just make sure that after playing this nobody gets hurt.
Written by: Smudge
Ratings: 9/10
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