Over the course of their brief three year existence, Interceptor have caused quite the stir within the metal underground. Their biggest “offense”, per the masses who can’t seem to keep their name out of their mouths, is that they are a blatant Venom worship band. Now they wouldn’t be the first, and they certainly won’t be the last. Hell, I’ve covered my fair share of these acts over the years, and I’ve dug most of them. However, upon closer investigation, it only took one listen of the band’s latest album, Metal Death, to figure out the hullabaloo. These guys are to Venom what Greta Van Fleet is (or at least was at one point) to Led Zeppelin.
Whereas GVF would sheepishly deny these clear as day influences, spewing ridiculousness that they closer resembled Cactus than the mighty Zep, Interceptor proudly embraces their Venom Jr. status, emulating every damn thing about the black metal gods from their vocals and guitar riffing, to the drumming and lo-fi production. In an age where metal has been soiled by brainless novelty acts, hipster douchery, and shitty overproduced “core” bands as far as the eye can see, are Interceptor really the worst thing in the world? FAR from it, and anyone who says otherwise should have their metal card revoked immediately.
Now these Venom similarities extend beyond the instrumentation alone. There are entire songs on here that bear VERY close resemblance to specific Venom songs. The rampaging opening title track is obviously Interceptor’s “Black Metal”. “Black Ritual” is a distant cousin of “Witching Hour”, and “Fire” may as well be a rearranged “Bloodlust”. Do these songs sound eerily similar to some of the greatest entries in the old school metal songbook? Yes. Do they suck? Absolutely not. Furthermore, in the process of sounding “exactly” like Venom, Interceptor manages to do so by showcasing nearly all of the band’s musical personas, reinterpreted in their own manner.
Epics like “Cemetery Winds” and “The Sword of Fire” add serious depth to the affair. The former almost sounds like what Venom would’ve sounded like if the original trio stuck it out to the late ’80s and tried their hand at Blood Fire Death era Bathory style epic black metal, while the latter channels the blackened doom and gloom of cuts like “Warhead” and “7 Gates of Hell”. Breakneck ragers like “Beheaded” and “Whiskey Night” are just kickass slabs of old school black-speed, while attitude-driven black n’ rollers like “Nachtkrieg”, “Confederate Cannibals”, and “Axe Warrior” strut their stuff with pure nastiness and the type of confidence that can only come from a bottle of Jack Daniel’s.
Considering the current incarnation of Venom are about as effective as a pair of sneakers without laces, and Venom Inc., while an incredible live act, have only disappointed me with their recorded output thus far, Interceptor serve as fitting successors to the dynasty established by Cronos, Mantas, and Abaddon all those years ago. I just never imagined that such an act would hail from *checks notes* Charleston, South Carolina of all places. Known as the “Holy City”, I sure hope Charleston’s priests, ministers, and other holy men alike say an extra prayer on Sunday with these mongrels roaming the street!
7 out of 10
Label: Motorpunk Records
Genre: Black/Speed Metal
For fans of: Venom, Motörhead, Bulldozer
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