Phantom – Not Midnight Yet (High Roller Records)It’s been quite a good year or so for Mexico’s Phantom, signing to High Roller Records, they have opened up their back catalogue to a wider audience with reissues and now they are poised to let loose their speed metal assault for the first time on the label.
Not Midnight Yet is a moment in time inspired by that mid to late 80’s speed/thrash sound where everything was faster than everything else. Twin axe harmonies everywhere as the guitars collide and combine through rough riffage and firework display solo.
The rhythms are relentless, inhuman drumming, with bass gallops like the four horsemen and screamed/shouted vocals torn from the bowels of hell. These comparisons are all deliberate by the way as Phantom are primarily all horror or occult themed in their lyrics, inspired by Mercyful Fate, Razor and Venom.
Phantom are right at that point where thrash meets black metal, making the NWOBHM style more dangerous and aggressive, however on their third album Phantom also increase the complexity, with some prog rock textures, clean guitars and event clean vocals, but these add to rather than overpower, as Phantom so don’t throw out your leather and chains and it’s
Not Midnight Yet for this Mexican metal machine.
7/10
Mace N Chain – Crowned In Grey Skies (No Remorse Records)I think you could make quite a good Venn Diagram about how many members of death metal bands end up forming classic heavy metal outfits.
Sweden’s David Nilsson is the singer in Feral as death metal band but in 2023 he debuted Mace N Chain with
Among The Ancient Pillars, a swords and sorcery inspired solo project that brought out his sword and armour gleaming in the sun, with music inspired by Manilla Road and Manowar.
On the debut he wrote and played everything but with this sophomore record,
Crowned In Grey Skies, he’s joined by drummer Joey Mancaruso (Fortress/Gravesword) this time around but still plays; acoustic and electric guitar, 4- and 8-string bass, acoustic bass and also sings.
Though a few solos on this record come from special guests in bands such as Smoulder, Vintersorg and Feral. With a drummer now involved Mace N Chain does feel a bit less like a “studio project” there’s a more organic flow though the songs and the writing has become diversified due to not having to write to a computer but a real drummer.
Crowned In Grey Skies offers new variations on a theme but never moved too far from classic heavy metal.
7/10
Iron Slaught – Metallic Torments (Gates Of Hell Records)More classic heavy metal speed from France now as Gates Of Hell Records bring us the second album from Iron Slaught. Formed in South West France in 2011, Iron Slaught are old school, hitting the accelerator with opening instrumental
Harbinger Of Afflictions, which gallops like Maiden track.
Increasing speed again on
Ghastly Obsession where the thrash and black metal inspiration comes in through the intense blast beats, razor sharp guitar sound and raw vocal shouts, though these move towards more traditional vocals on
Soldier Of Fortune.
It’s been 11 years since their debut record and in that time Iron Slaught have matured their underground metal approach with advanced melodies, excellent guitar harmonies and a more cinematic atmosphere, all refined well by the two members with tales of medieval battles, witchcraft and more.
The bass leads the charge, and while the drum programming does sound a little artificial, Iron Slaught deliver lighting quick classic metal in both English and their native French on this second record, but they never scrimp on the speed, all of these songs gallop, full speed ahead and nothing less.
Is it worth an 11 year wait? Well yes, but, at the moment this is good studio project that is crying out to get on the road to reach full potential. 7/10
Axemaster – Of Beasts And Plagues (Cosmic Fire Records)
Enough of all this heavy metal revival stuff. Axemaster are the real deal.
Formed in the US Of A in the 1980’s they’re as authentic as you’ll get as with most bands from this era there’s been line up changes, periods of inactivity, reformations but always carrying the heavy metal flame is founding guitarist Joe Sims.
Of Beasts And Plagues sees an almost fully revamped line up with vocalist Geoff McGraw the only carry over from their last record in 2017. His voice is gruff but suits the style Axemaster bring to the table as classic metal meets thrash and doom, most of their tracks sit in that mid-pace chug.
The gloomy atmosphere of the doom/occultism influence shifting to slower and rawer moments while they can get fast when they need to, bringing aggression on Dealers and Danse Macabre, and while the production style does vary quite a lot on the record, it’s still a good collection of authentic 80’s heavy metal. 6/10
