There are few traditional metal bands in recent years who have been as prolific as Savage Master. This is for two reasons. For one, the band tours endlessly and brings an entertaining stage show with them. Fronted by the lovely Stacey Savage and backed by a band of masked henchmen, their show combines the seediness of Mentors with the dark theatricality of Alice Cooper. This has led to them sharing the stage with too many bands to list; one such memorable outing being an opening slot for the equally over the top GWAR.
However, all the style in the world means nothing if you don’t have the substance to back it up. Savage Master does. Their raw and blatantly old school brand of metal comes off as a cross between the NWOBHM, Mercyful Fate, and that crop of pioneering female fronted metal bands from the early 80s. Think Warlock, Acid, Chastain, Bitch, etc. If you’re looking for the pomposity and bombast of modern female fronted metal, look elsewhere. Savage Master has taken the niche back to the basics with three prior studio albums, and continues to do so with their fourth, Those Who Hunt at Night.
The first half of this album is a largely straightforward traditional metal affair. The lead riff of the opening “Hunt at Night” sounds almost identical to the lead riff of Judas Priest’s “Heading Out to the Highway”, but aside from that, it’s a solid rocking opener with a rowdy anthemic chorus. These choruses, accentuated by brash gang vocals, serve as the backbone for cuts like the larger than life “Eyes Behind the Stars” and unabashedly fun “Spirit of Death”. No proggy interludes, technical wizardry, or modern metal flirtations here: Just old school steel executed well!
It’s on Hunt‘s second half that things get slightly interesting. For one, there’s the slow burning, epic “A Warrior’s Return”. I was getting some Frost and Fire era Cirith Ungol vibes from this one, which were only further driven home by the wild wah-wah metallic psych onslaught of its guitar solo. These arcane and magickal tendencies rear their mystic head on cuts like the slow and sinister “Queen Satan”, as well as the closing “The Death of Time”, which can only be described as Mercyful Fate meets Cirith Ungol at a seance. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Savage Master album without at least a couple speedsters. That territory is covered as well, thanks to the NWOBHM on steroids approach of “The Hangman’s Tree” and “Vaster Empires”.
Although I don’t believe Those Who Hunt at Night is as strong or dynamic as Savage Master’s last release, Myth, Magic and Steel (2019), it is a worthwhile follow up from a band who’s absolutely dominating the playing field. Who needs denim and leather when you’ve got hooded masks and a badass warrior woman at the helm? Savage Master’s musical and visual presentation go hand in hand, thrilling headbangers young and old alike, and channeling that energy that’d make Tipper Gore shake in her heels. Are you sold yet?
7 out of 10
Label: Shadow Kingdom Records
Genre: Heavy Metal
For fans of: Judas Priest, Cirith Ungol, Mercyful Fate
Was listening to this 2 days ago. I really like “Rain of Tears”.