For as burnt out as I am on the term “NWOTHM” and the bands that make up said scene in 2025, I do, from time to time, give new acts within this niche a listen. After all, you never know which band can go onto become the next Enforcer or Savage Master or Traveler! Admittedly, I’m drawing from the most upper echelon of the scene, but I digress. As this happens to be a rather quiet week for new releases (something that can’t be said for the next two weeks), I figured I’d give No Sins to Confess, the debut full length from Spanish power trio Löanshark, a fair shake.
Spain has long had a rich, diverse history of heavy metal. Whether it be the meat and potatoes anthems of Barón Rojo or progressive majesty of Medina Azahara, the gore-soaked lunacy of Haemorrhage or streetwise fury of Los Suaves, Spain has had something to offer for headbangers going as far back as the ’70s. Löanshark keeps the tradition going in their own leather and bullet belt-clad ways, yet instead of breaking their necks to create something “new”, draw heavily from the well of yesteryear with no shame whatsoever. Make no mistake, this is a band who wears their influences on both sleeves.
Now by no means does this imply that No Sins to Confess is by any means “bad”. In fact, the album proves to be quite entertaining during its speed metal moments. The opening “Electric Shockin’ Waves” comes storming out of the gate with its ripping energy and high velocity attack, serving as a fitting open to the affair. “Another Man in the Trunk” keeps the pedal to the metal with its motörcharged drumming, ferocious riffing, and uber-melodic vocals, as does the headbanger-friendly uptempo attack of “Bad Guys Don’t Lose”. Speaking of Lemmy and the gang, Löanshark’s attempt at metallized rock n’ rollers like “Backstabber” and “Open Fire”, the latter a Marseille cover, also prove to be worthwhile.
As for the other half of No Sins to Confess, well, let’s just say it’s everything you heard Enforcer do 15 years earlier to greater effect. The strongest of the bunch is the pseudo-sleaze anthem, ‘Wet n’ Wild”, with its old school glam metal and Metal Heart era Accept maneuvers, but even this falls short. As for “Machine Gunner”, “The City Goes Fast”, “Midnight Shooter” (Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone”, anyone?), and the closing “Heavy Metal Addicts”, all of these songs seem to follow the same paint by numbers template that has dominated the NWOTHM for years now, and caused many like myself to become tired and jaded.
Half of No Sins to Confess would’ve made for a fun, nostalgic old school metal EP drawing from the sounds of ’83. The other half falls flat, coming off as faceless slabs of Enforcer worship reimagined for the two zillionth time. I’m sure the Hell’s Heroes crowd will flock to this release, just as they do damn near any band LARPing as an obscure demo act who splintered before they were even born. As for me, well, I’ll stick to my old Barón Rojo records.
5 out of 10
Label: RPM ROAR
Genre: Heavy Metal
For fans of: Enforcer, Hitten, Air Raid
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