Jawbreaker Records first crossed my radar earlier this year with the release of Palantyr’s debut double EP, The Ascent & The The Hunger. Upon further investigation, this Swedish boutique label’s roster is rife with killer underground traditional, speed, and thrash acts, many of whom should catch your attention. The latest addition to this ever-expanding lineup is a brand new act hailing from Spain, Hunger. Similar to Palantyr, Hunger are also an unabashed throwback metal troupe with a lethal need for speed. Yet whereas Palantyr drew from the well of their fellow Frenchmen, Hunger’s brand of old school metal mania follows largely in the Teutonic tradition.
Interestingly enough, we covered guitarist Jara Solis earlier this year when reviewing the debut album from her OTHER band, Sinner Rage, Powerstrike: An album that, despite its best Scorpions worshipping efforts, left me a tad conflicted. For what it was worth, it was a pleasant hard and heavy outing from a band who I still feel has a better grip on hard than heavy. On the other hand, when it comes to Hunger, there is nothing about this band or their debut EP, Ruler of the Wolves, that I must hyper-analyze, dissect, or second guess. This is a raw and rampaging slab of true traditionalism, that at times pushes the speedometer to ungodly levels.
Ruler of the Wolves boasts six tracks: Two intros, two speedsters, and two trad metal bangers. As “Descent into Abyss” gives way to the band’s eponymous theme song, we’re walloped with unrelenting riffage, thunderous drums, and gruff vocals that, if one didn’t know better, could be confused for Running Wild’s Rock ‘n’ Rolf circa 1985. Even when he does reach the top of his vocal range, there is nothing pretty or operatic about the delivery of frontman Dizzy D. He screams, spits, and snarls his way throughout this release, giving those songs a unique edge over the lion’s share of the NWOTHM crop. Look no further than the EP’s title track.
With any other singer at the helm, “Ruler of the Wolves” would likely be another enjoyable NWOTHM headbanger, gallop riffage and all. Instead, Dizzy delivers what can best be described as proto-death metal vocals over an orthodox traditional metal tune. There is a slight tinge of melody, but overall, the vocals lie closer to the aforementioned Rock ‘n’ Rolf in his heyday or Cronos than Halford or Dickinson. These vocals become even more guttural on the rip-roaring “Sabotage”, easily the most violent cut on the EP, while the air-guitar friendly “Beware the Demons” closes this release in Warlock/Priest fashion: Loud, proud, and unabashedly metal.
Admittedly, the lead riff to “Beware the Demons” does sound slightly reminiscent of Maiden’s “Fear of the Dark”, but at this point, what ’80s band have these NWOTHM acts NOT “borrowed” from? This observation aside, Ruler of the Wolves is an iron-clad juggernaut of an opening statement from Hunger: A name that suits this band, because they’re hungry for metal at its purest and most powerful. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for this act, and how much further they’ll push the speed limit in the future!
8 out of 10
Label: Jawbreaker Records
Genre: Heavy Metal
For fans of: Running Wild, Warlock, Judas Priest