Speed Metal

Skelator – Cyber Metal Review

By Holdeneye on June 13, 2019 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 88 comments

“I stand before you today to confess two great sins. First, I was not allowed to watch He-man growing up, so you will not be treated to the appropriate level of jokes that this band name demands. Alas, I’m neither the writer that you want nor the one that you deserve. Secondly, despite living in the Seattle area for my entire life, I had never heard of local band Skelator until stumbling upon them in the promo bin the other day. I was far too busy with real life circumstances to take on a review for this week, but the combination of the band’s location and my physiological response to hearing the advance track required me to reprioritize my life.” Cause you had to be a He-Man, dincha?

Leathürbitch – Into the Night Review

By Steel Druhm on May 28, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Heavy Metal, High Roller Records, Reviews, Speed Metal, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, 51 comments

“Leathürbitch are clearly enamored with the early 80s metal sound as well as the proto-speed metal era. They’re also determined to marry these sub-genres, which leads to an odd mix of early Motley Crüe and Bitch with faster acts like Mötörhead and Savage Grace. Add in a tendency to sing about their cocks, and you have quite the suspicious package ready for TSA inspection.” Night sweats,

Mystik – Mystik Review

By Twelve on May 17, 2019 in 2019, I Hate, Reviews, Speed Metal, Swedish Metal, Speed Metal, 37 comments

“What makes speed metal speed metal? Holdeneye mused on this philosophical nightmare not too long ago, and never really formulated an answer. At the time he was pacing around the Angry Metal Break Room like a caged animal, muttering incoherently to himself, I spent many an hour watching him, amused, thinking to myself: ‘Riffs. Speed. Done.'” Not so fast.

Bewitcher – Under the Witching Cross Review

By Holdeneye on May 10, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Shadow Kingdom Records, Speed Metal, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, 76 comments

“If you’re a stereotypical stereotyper like myself, Portland, Oregon is a city that brings to mind images of rain-soaked, tattoo-covered hipsters sipping pot-infused craft beer and cold brew coffee while they dodge cavalcades of Subarus, Priuses (Prii?), and bicycles on the march towards the many nearby hiking trails. Having visited the city several times, I can confirm that almost all of these are 100% true, but I’m beginning to think that the whole “Keep Portland Weird” idea is a coverup to distract from Portland’s true identity as a stronghold of — gasp! — SATAN! Hometown speed metallers Bewitcher are here with their second full length to set the record straight, and on Under the Witching Cross they boldly fly the Sign of the Goat above the City of Roses while uttering diabolical incantations in an attempt to transform the grounds below into the “Savage Lands of Satan!” The Devil is in the dark roast.

Chevalier – Destiny Calls Review

By Eldritch Elitist on May 7, 2019 in 2019, Finnish Metal, Gates of Hell Records, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Speed Metal, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, 38 comments

“Speed metal is something of an oddity in the vast expanse of metal subgenres. Where most styles have endured through the decades, speed metal was more of a stepping stone to the birth of thrash than anything else, its caffeinated take on heavy metal giving way to something crunchier and more easily classifiable. Perhaps this was for the best, as I can’t think of a single instance where speed metal ever matched the best that either trad or thrash metal has to offer. This hasn’t stopped what I’ve decided to dub the Sneaky Scandinavian Speed Metal Revival, however.” No one expects the SSSMR!

Sins of the Damned – Striking the Bell of Death Review

By Holdeneye on May 2, 2019 in 2019, Chilean Metal, Reviews, Shadow Kingdom Records, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 59 comments

“Where exactly does speed metal stop and thrash begin? It’s a question that pops into my head nearly every time I listen to a speed metal album, but I’ve never come up with an answer that satisfies me. I’ve searched online and found different explanations: “thrash has punk in it, speed doesn’t” or “thrash has harsh vocals, speed doesn’t” or “speed metal is essentially sped-up traditional metal while thrash is extreme metal” or “thrash uses the low E-string to build riffs” or “blah, blah, blah.” There’s some truth to all of these, but I still have no idea how to describe the difference in a definitive way.” Fine and fast lines.

Enforcer – Zenith Review

By Steel Druhm on April 25, 2019 in 2019, Heavy Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Speed Metal, Swedish Metal, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, 50 comments

“Some bands are all about dark moods, some traffic in furious rage, while others specialize in technical, progressive wankery. Over their 14 year career, Enforcer never sniffed any of those categories. Their chosen sound is all about old school, retro metal fun. From the speed metal styling of albums like Into the Night and Diamonds, to the hair metal on biker meth of From Beyond, the band always sought to rock your socks off without having to buy you dinner first. Zenith is the next stage of evolution for them.” Enforcing the olde.

Hell Fire – Mania Review

By Holdeneye on March 31, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, RidingEasy Records, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 32 comments

For today’s lesson, we’ll have to travel back in time to the years 1-4 BTH (Before the Hol) or what is more commonly known as ’80-’84. I recently confessed my love for olde things and today we’ll expand upon that theme. I often find myself thinking that all of the cool music was either written shortly before or shortly after I was born, and the olde timers among you will probably agree with this sentiment. As my musical tastes expand, there’s still something about early ’80s metal that has me tethered like the umbilical cord that I sported back then. Mania is the third album from San Francisco’s Hell Fire, and it firmly plants its flag in the aforementioned chronological sweet zone.” Golden age and ageism.

Chainbreaker – Lethal Desire Review

By Holdeneye on February 18, 2019 in 2019, Canadian Metal, Heavy Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Reviews, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 35 comments

“Chainbreaker. It’s a name that conjures images of freedom being won, justice being attained, and dragons being mothered, but it only takes a cursory listen to the lyrics on Lethal Desire to realize that this is a band whose aspirations are not nearly so lofty. Comprised of former members of Toxic Holocaust and Cauldron, Toronto’s Chainbreaker specializes in speedy thrash anthems dedicated to hell, killing, drugs, and what the Bible refers to as fornication, and sometimes all of these at one time.” Chained to the oldies.

Toxik Attack – Assassinos em Série Review

By Holdeneye on January 26, 2019 in 2019, Helldprod Records, Portuguese Metal, Reviews, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 68 comments

“I’m proud to tell you that I happen to be AMG’s resident specialist when it comes to Portuguese language thrash/speed releases from Helldprod Records. No other writer here can boast the honor of reviewing such a record, >and now I’ve done it twice in my illustriously short career. It may be an impossibly narrow niche, but hey, you have to start somewhere! Assassinos em Série is the debut album from Portuguese band Toxik Attack, and it is my next great hope for thrash in 2019.” Closed for remediation.