California is so synonymous with thrash and glam metal (two genres that couldn’t be more polar opposite musically) that one is quick to forget the slew of traditional/speed/power metal bands who came out of the state during the first half of the ’80s. One such band was Ruthless. Formed in 1982, Ruthless released a classic EP and full length in Metal Without Mercy (1984) and Discipline of Steel (1986) before falling off the face of the earth entirely come the late ’80s. Like many bands of their era, decades passed and the euro festival circuit came calling, resulting in a new incarnation of the band that has been active since 2008.
While only singer Sammy DeJohn remains from the band’s heyday, he’s surrounded himself with a group of players who fully grasp the Ruthless spirit and sound on their latest full length, The Fallen. Throughout the course of this 10 song, 41ish minute outing, there’s no desperate attempts at keeping up with the times. There’s no overblown, squeaky clean production characteristic of their genre’s euro counterpart. There’s no sugar-coated symphonic metal sap-fests to throw the pacing off track. No, The Fallen is as no frills of a classic US power metal album as one could ask for.
Whether it be ripping speed (“Betrayal”), battle marches (“No Mercy”), or straight to the chase gallop-laden mania (“The Fallen”, “Dead Fall”, “Soldiers of Steel”, etc.), The Fallen runs the gamut of the ’80s US power metal spectrum. Every last guitar riff and solo is dripping with the blood of the false, while DeJohn belts out dark, fantastical lyrics with a similar delivery to the late Ronnie James Dio. Rounding it all out is an ultra-raw production that really encapsulates the atmosphere of the era. As I mentioned in the last paragraph, these aren’t songs you want overproduced to oblivion.
The one aspect of this album that is slightly unusual by Ruthless standards is a tendency to veer off into power-doom territory. I wouldn’t label it a principal genre, but it is present enough on cuts like “End Times”, “Thulsa Doom”, and “Live to Die” that one can’t help but notice it. My favorite of the bunch is “Live to Die”, which features new guitarist Glen Paul doing his best Iommi impersonation with those lumbering, swaggering riffs. That said, I also enjoy the Candlemass-esque pseudo-balladry of “End Times”, the closest thing you’ll get on this album to a *gasp* ballad.
Although The Fallen doesn’t pack the same punch as Ruthless efforts of yesteryear, it is a damn fine USPM album and a killer way to start 2024 for those of a bloodthirsty disposition. In a landscape dominated by the likes of Sabaton, Nightwish, and their two zillion lesser clones, Ruthless are determined to take power metal back to its humble roots, one violent assault at a time. You don’t make it this far with a name like Ruthless without being, well, ruthless! They’re still cranking out metal without mercy, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
7 out of 10
Label: Fireflash Reords
Genre: Power Metal
For fans of: Tyrant, Omen, Dio