Starting out in Italy back in 2008, Sign Of The Jackal have released a few underground releases, with a small cult following I imagine. Now, in 2013, they've released their debut album which includes most of the songs that were featured on their debut EP, entitled "The Beyond" from 2011. To me, that EP was excellent so my expectations for their debut album was high. As a result after giving it a couple of spins, I can only say that I'm very satisfied!
What you'll find here is high-quality old school style female-fronted heavy metal sounding like something released in the early to mid 80's. If you think of Doro Pesch's and Warlock's debut "Burning The Witches", as well as Hellion's albums, you get what it's about pretty much. Comparing it to newer traditional heavy metal bands musically, I would really say that this album reminds me of my fellow countrymen Enforcer, and that really ain't a bad thing!
The album starts with a classic 80's style intro called "Voodoo" which gives me Mercyful Fate vibes, just before they kick in with speed metal opener "Heavy Metal Possession", which sounds a lot like Enforcer to me. The band marches on with a few excellent gems before going into "Night Of The Undead", which is the track that catched my attention from this band and their old EP. It's without a doubt a given classic and fan-favorite. "Paganini Horror" is kind of a half-ballad instrumental. It's calm but still rocking, but also very dark and haunting with much focus on the driving bass and very melodic guitars. The band continue with some heavy and speed metal songs respectively before kicking into "The Beyond", the slowest track on the album and in the same vein as Crimson Glory's "Queen Of The Masquerade" and Killer Dwarfs' "Heavy Mental Breakdown". The band then round up and finish with a cover of Fastway's "Trick Or Treat", the title song for the movie with the same name.
All in all, I found this album very interesting, fun and musically great. The production really screams 1983 and gives the music total justice. I was also impressed, but maybe not very surprised anyway, that they managed to take their great EP, and make like a new EP and put 'em both together, making this excellent debut album. It doesn't lose quality anywhere from start to end, it's just an ever going quality heavy metal journey with cool riffs, solos, choruses and melodies. Musically it really does sound like an Enforcer album with female vocals, which is the best thing about this album! Of course, Sign Of The Jackal has their own touches to everything, making "Mark Of The Beast" sounding like a unique new traditional metal album.
I strongly recommend this album for fans of old school and...let's say "retro" metal. It sounds a lot like newer bands like Enforcer, Steelwing, Skull Fist, Cauldron, Axxion, White Wizzard, etc. This is for the fans of real and true heavy metal, make sure to give it a try!
Final rating: 9/11 (not the date, but it goes to 11 just like Spinal Tap's amplifiers, because it's THAT metal.)
"Mark Of The Beast" is released through High Roller Records, available at http://www.hrrecords.de
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar