Here at Defenders of the Faith, we love examining the various subgenres, scenes, and niches of metal around the globe. Sure, we look forward to the endless barrage of OSDM revivalists and veteran acts returning to reclaim their thrones. But it isn’t everyday you get to explore the super specific world of New Zealand speed metal. According to the Metal Archives, today’s featured band is one of only 6 who fit this category.
Stälker’s brand of speed metal is firmly rooted in the old school. It’s also very, very fast. How fast? If you try to headbang to their new album, Black Majik Terror, your might snap your neck. Guitarist Chris Calavrias delivers riffs that are equal parts hooky and heavy. On top of that is a thunderous rhythm section and the half snarl, half shriek vocal delivery of frontman Daif. Some have compared him to John Cyriis, although I hear more John Gallagher. Add all these elements together and you’ve got the first half of Black Majik Terror: a high speed hybrid of Raven meets Kill ‘Em All era Metallica. If played behind the wheel, tracks like “Of Steel and Fire” and “Sentenced to Death” will surely get you a speeding ticket or two.
I would’ve been fine with 40 minutes of speed metal overload, but as it turns out, there’s more to Stälker than meets the eye. “Holocene’s End” begins as an ominous, menacing dirge, slowly following you in the dark before stabbing you in the back. It picks up the pace about halfway through, but remains a mid tempo Mercyful Fate influenced jam with loads of sweet soloing. Following this is the highlight(s) of the album, “The Cross” and “Iron Genocide”. The riffs on this twin assault are evil and infernal in every way. I’d even go as far to label them black metal à la Sentence of Death era Destruction.
As I listened to Black Majik Terror, I couldn’t help but ask myself the age old question: Where does speed metal end and thrash metal begin? If we’re going off my personal definition (and we are for simplicity’s sake), thrash begins when you incorporate mosh friendly breakdown riffs. There are a handful of these throughout. “Demolition” boasts a rather nasty one. However, Black Majik Terror is focused on being as fast and ferocious as possible, hence the speed outweighing the thrash.
Labels aside, if you like your metal fast, loud, and raw, you will love Stälker. They speed at ease and have fun while doing so. You just need to keep your eyes and ears open. Blink and you’ll miss them.
7 out of 10
Label: Napalm Records
Genre: Speed Metal
For fans of: Raven, Whiplash, Kill ‘Em All era Metallica