1983: What a magical year for metal. Off the heels of the NWOBHM, metal was rapidly evolving. Speed metal would soon give way to thrash, and the USPM scene quickly found its footing. Today’s band in review conjures the magic of those halcyon days with unrelenting vim and vigor. Meet Powermönger. Hailing from the land of Anvil, Exciter, and Thor, these Canucks live up to their moniker and do their forefathers proud with a blistering old school metal attack that touches on early power metal and frenetic speed, at times bordering on thrash in its infancy (think Kill ‘Em All, Show No Mercy, etc.)
Their opening theme song draws immediate comparison to Jag Panzer, specifically circa their eponymous 1983 EP. 1984’s Ample Destruction, barbaric as it is, would see greater refinement, whereas “Powermönger” boasts the greenness of say “Death Row” or “Battle Zones”. It also helps that frontman Blaise Elchuk boasts a vocal delivery reminiscent of Harry “The Tyrant” Conklin, at least on this cut. I sure wouldn’t have minded an EP strictly in this early power/speed vein, but alas, there is more to Powermönger than meets the eye and ear, and they waste no time showing us on this all too brief outing.
“Leather Legions” follows, going full speed ahead with reckless abandon. Everything, from the vocals and drumming, to the riffs and solos, is done with a more pronounced proto-thrash violence, proving that this band is more than a one trick pony. “Hellfighter” pushes the extreme-o-meter even further, boasting evil breakneck riffs and the fastest drumming this release has offered thus far, akin to demo era Overkill or Metal Church. Speaking of demos, despite being an EP, this release certainly does boast a raw, amateurish demo-like quality to the production. This approach can really go one of two ways, and Powermönger nailed it.
“Off the Menu” retreats back to the primitive, melodic power metal attack of the opening title track. I guess after back to back cuts consisting largely of shouts and grunts, Elchuk wanted to show off those glorious Conklinian pipes yet again. Seriously, with a crisper production and more focused songwriting approach, there’s no telling what this band can accomplish in this vein on a full length. The last original, “Order of the Lich”, is certainly the most fascinating, and perhaps a foreshadowing of what’s to follow. It’s a dark, lumbering slab of power-doom, attempting the raw, epic approach of Manowar, At War with Satan era Venom, and even Dio era Sabbath. At least that’s what I pick up from this tune.
A balls to the wall cover of Acid’s classic anthem, “Max Overload”, brings this EP to an explosive close and leaves us begging for more. It’s an interesting choice, admittedly, to hear a male-fronted act cover a female-fronted staple, but a choice that paid off in the long run. Assuming this debut EP boasts only a fraction of Powermönger’s self-proclaimed power, we ought to tread lightly when visiting them next time. A full length assault could result in full blown electrocution, complete annihilation of the power grid, baby! As Space Ace famously sang, “Don’t cut the power on me!”
8 out of 10
Label: Jawbreaker Records
Genre: Speed Metal
For fans of: Jag Panzer, Metal Church, Exciter
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