RIOT CITY - Electric Elite review

 

RIOT CITY - Electric Elite

No Remorse Records

This is the second full length by Canada's RIOT CITY. A few years ago they came out with their fiery debut, Burn the Night. That one proved they loved original NWOBHM music. This time around the band made some changes and it definitely shows progress. 

First off you've got guitarist Cale Savy handing over lead vocal duties to newcomer Jordan Jacobs. This guy is a heavy metal screamer reminiscent of the old days. Actually he's an amazing vocalist with a wide range. You could consider him a Geoff Tate devotee. That not only adds to the song craft but lets Savy and fellow guitarist Roldan Reimer more freedom to go crazy.

Electric Elite is eight cuts of pure NWOBHM worship done right. Their debut had plenty of MAIDEN-isms. This time around they've come into their own. Good powerful melodies, damm good riffs with some strong sounding bass lines. Cale Savy gets to show off more with his guitar soloing. 

I'm old enough to remember when NWOBHM was fresh and wild as fuck. Since then, especially in the past decade, there's been a ton of young acts who love the music but cannot put their own stamp onto it. On this sophomore album RIOT CITY has done so.

https://www.noremorse.gr/

LISTEN HERE:

https://riotcityofficial.bandcamp.com/album/electric-elite

KNIGHT & GALLOW - For Honor And Bloodshed review

 

KNIGHT & GALLOW - For Honor And Bloodshed

No Remorse Records

Here's a new band from California who are part of something which I like to call making America metal again. Now don't get me wrong. Here in the states we're metal as fuck. But hey I'm an older fan and as much as I like the various genres. I really like to hear something old school and traditional. 

So this is the debut album by KNIGHT & GALLOW, a five piece act from Sacramento, California. Who on here pretty much nail the whole fantasy Heavy Metal magazine meets the music scenario. The vocals, by Nick Chambers, are clean, decent and not generic. The song craft by this band with it's innovative style versus the traditional pace is damm cool.

While listening to this the first time I wondered if it was a long lost act from the 80's. Yeah the production is 80's all the way. And musically it all reminds me of a cross between CIRITH UNGOL and MANILLA ROAD with better vocals of course. 

The songs on here, all nine of em, have decent rhythms and fiery solos. A few times there's some soaring rocking style cuts like "Stormbringer's Call". And then there's numbers which hold you in balance like "Men Of The West". All in all a great debut album and hey raise that horned fist for metal and this band.  

https://www.noremorse.gr/

LISTEN HERE:

https://knightandgallow.bandcamp.com/album/for-honor-and-bloodshed

ETERNAL CHAMPION - Ravening Iron review

 

ETERNAL CHAMPION - Ravening Iron

No Remorse Records

Here we have the second album by US traditional metal stalwarts ETERNAL CHAMPION. I gotta say that their debut, The Armor of Ire, from 2016 was a favorite of mine. Back then they were following in the footsteps of MANILLA ROAD and CIRITH UNGOL. Basically with this new one they're still on the same path. 

There's been a few decent US bands in the past two decades whom I like that have also walked this same influence road. So it's being familiar with the sound which gives ETERNAL CHAMPION a standing in my good graces. Plus there's some really cool songs with riffs that gallop along in the mighty MAIDEN way. I do like the monotone style vocals and the guitar solos on here are true metal amazing. The atmospheric parts I can handle to a point. 

I tried comparing this to their debut from a few years ago. Basically I see this as a cool follow-up which doesn't stray away from their original vision. It took me a few listens to fully appreciate Ravening Iron. In the end it's a reminder of why metal fans of yore who liked the mainstream releases at the time also became hounds in the scene's underground treasures.

https://www.noremorse.gr/

LISTEN HERE:

https://eternalchampion.bandcamp.com/album/ravening-iron

TWISTED TOWER DIRE - Wars in the Unknown review

TWISTED TOWER DIRE - Wars in the Unknown

No Remorse Records




I guess including a bias alert is required here since I'm a fan and those of us in my neck of the woods consider these guys locals. TWISTED TOWER DIRE have been true metal titans since starting out in the late 90's. I consider myself fortunate to have seen em a couple of times during their mid-period when the amazing Tony Taylor (who passed away in 2010) sang for em. And anyone into their style of metal knows that their 2003 full length, Crest of the Martyrs, is a classic.


But that was then and when Tony left the band in 2006 Jonny Aune of the local band VIPER stepped in. Yeah tough shoes to fill but Jonny is also an amazing vocalist in his own right. So in in 2011 when the band released Make It Dark it showed that TWISTED TOWER DIRE were strong as ever and in capable hands in the frontman position. That was a while ago and since the band members are all involved in other projects it makes sense why it's taken eight years for a new release. But it was worth the wait. 


If you're a fan of true metal, US power metal or whatever you want to call it jerky then Wars in the Unknown is going to be one of the greatest albums you'll hear in 2019. We're talking ten high energy, catchy songs with singalong chorusses, none of which are longer than five minutes. Once again the vocals are amazing whether Aune is in that gutsy singing style or hitting the high notes. Add to that the twin guitar melodies pushing the MAIDEN-esque worship. The rhythm section is thunderous as needed and finally the guitar soloing just slices through like a scimitar.


All in all Wars in the Unknown is one of those infectious metal releases. It reminds you of why you got into the damm music in the first place. It's a fun listen with songs that could be considered campy but hey if you sing about swords I'm all in. Now for those of you die-hard TWISTED TOWER DIRE fans clutching your copies of Crest of the Martyrs or The Isle of Hydra (because it has a cool cover) to your chest. Loosen up a bit because this is the best thing this band has done in ages. It's definitely one of my favorite albums of 2019.


https://www.noremorse.gr

https://twistedtowerdire.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TwistedTowerDire/