Every month, I make a list of releases to review for this site. I end up reviewing most, but some fall between the cracks. This was the case with Roadrash’s self titled EP which came out last month. Roadrash is a Canadian speed metal band. Speed metal is like the bread they give you at restaurants before the meal: It’s almost impossible to mess up and chances are I’m gonna like it. Some bands do it better than others, but by and large, you know what you’re gonna get.
Roadrash is as straight forward as they come. The two songs that make up this EP, “666 MPH” and “Street Gurreiros”, are fast and loud bangers. There’s some redundancy to the riffs and lyrics. Who cares. This isn’t music for your brain. This is music for your crotch. These songs remind me of Killing is My Business era Megadeth if Dave Mustaine had an appetite for fun instead of revenge. Perhaps Roadrash’s next release can be called Partying is My Business?
Underneath it all is scumbag punk attitude which demands attention. I’m not talking AnArChY/ReVoLuTiOn punks. I’m talking the strung out asshole in the studded jacket chugging MD 20/20 in the venue parking lot punks. Frontman David Hammer has a nasty snarl to his voice which compliments the equally nasty riffs and solos. My favorite solo is on “Street Gurreiros”. It’s played in the same fake it till ya make it spirit as classic Raven or Tank.
Roadrash will make a fine edition to your Spotify party playlist. Tell your loser friends “The Macarena” is old hat. It’s 2020 baby! Time to bash with ‘Rash.
6 out of 10
Label: Metal Assault Records
Genre: Speed Metal
For fans of: Killing is My Business era Megadeth, Tank, Inepsy