NWOTHM: A term I hate, but a scene that’s booming. With every year that goes by, more bands hop onto this denim and leather clad bandwagon. Some acts have excelled and managed to create a sound and identity of their own while paying tribute to the 80s. Others fall short, playing recycled Maiden riffs with no emotion, but a flashy outfit. Then there’s the bands that fall in between.
Stallion’s latest album, Slaves of Time, strives for retro glory. Most of the time, it impresses. The back to back attack of “Time to Reload” and “All In” are excellent hard n’ heavy songs reminiscent of early 80s Krokus. Some may call it dumb. Stallion doesn’t care and neither do I. I would’ve loved for the entire album to be in this vein, but I guess that’s what my old copy of Headhunter is for.
On the opposite side of the spectrum is “Brain Dead”. Fueled by double bass drums, ripping riffs, and over the top upper register vocals, it sounds like classic Overkill. Stallion goes between traditional and speed metal throughout the entire album, but this is pure thrash. Hell, there’s even a mosh section! It doesn’t get nastier than this and that’s why it’s my favorite track.
For good measure, Slaves of Time follows with a 7 minute power ballad, “Die with Me”. Too many bands forget about the “power” part of the power ballad. Stallion doesn’t. With a massive chorus, big riffs, and twin soloing, they put emphasis on the power. My only disappointment was that I didn’t have a lighter on me to wave upon first listen, but that’s my fault.
Aside from another thrasher in “Merchants of Fear”, and the strong closer, “Meltdown”, Stallion sadly falls into the same trap as many of the current NWOTHM breed do: redundancy. Tracks like “Waking the Demons”, “No Mercy”, and “Dynamiter” are your typical NWOTHM fodder. They’re OK, but forgettable. If you played these songs for me on their own and told me to guess which band it is, I couldn’t. I’d probably rattle off a list ranging from Riot City to Ambush and every other new act in between that puts out albums with a 50/50 great to meh ratio.
This criticism aside, Slaves of Time‘s highlights makeup for the disappointments. The good tracks are very good and bound to satisfy NWOTHM fanatics. If your cares are little, but appetite for 80s metal worship is big, this is the album for you.
7 out of 10
Label: High Roller Records
Genre: Heavy/Speed Metal
For fans of: Enforcer, Skull Fist, Krokus