When we last heard from Canadian traditional metallists Traveler, they had just hit back to back grand slams with their sophomore album, Termination Shock (2020), which quickly followed my 2019 album of the year, Traveler. Couple these two modern day masterpieces with acclaimed festival sets and this band was so scorching hot that you’d burn yourself if you dared lay a finger upon them. Since all great things come in threes, we patiently awaited for the follow up to Termination Shock…and waited…and waited…and waited a little bit longer.
Considering the sudden impact of their first two outings, the four year wait leading up to their latest effort, Prequel to Madness, felt like an eternity. Granted, this wasn’t entirely the band’s fault. While we’re quick to forget these days, there was a little global pandemic that rocked the entire globe in 2020. Just when things were looking up in the civilization department, Traveler faced their own internal setback with the departure of their rhythm section, drummer Chad Vallier in 2022 and bassist Dave Arnold in 2023. Yet no plague nor personnel shakeups can stop the metal machine that is Traveler, armed and ready with their fastest album to date, Prequel to Madness.
I’m not sure if it was the restlessness of not being able to release music sooner, or just a steadfast determination to snap the necks of anyone who stepped in their way, but Traveler pushes the speed dial to overload on this album. And it is beautiful. The opening “Take the Wheel” wastes no time putting the pedal to the metal, fusing the musicality of ’80s Maiden with the heroic aura of Thundersteel era Riot. It’s speed metal, yes, but sharp and sophisticated in delivery. Rapid fire ragers like “The Law”, “Heavy Hearts”, and the 7+ minute closing title track are bound to dazzle headbangers of all ages with their ultra precise guitar onslaught and the fiery vocals of JP Abboud.
As for Prequel to Madness‘s midtempo half, it’s equally as effective as these aforementioned scorchers, and sonically reminiscent of Traveler’s first two albums. “Dark Skull” is ’80s metal worship done right: Straight and to the point with a hugely harmonious chorus and wicked air guitar friendly riffage. The sci-fi tinged “Rebels of Earth” channels the intergalactic atmosphere and hypnotic melodies of Somewhere in Time era Maiden, while “No Fate” and “Vagrants of Time” come off as lost ’80s power metal relics. Interestingly enough, despite their obvious love of both US and euro power metal, Traveler pay homage to these scenes will still remaining unabashedly and purely no frills heavy metal through and through.
Much like every Traveler release before it, Prequel to Madness is an all killer, no filler affair that stands as the album to beat in 2024. Granted, I said this about Termination Shock in 2020; then Cirith Ungol came out of nowhere with an epic metal RKO in the form of their comeback album, Forever Black. Admittedly, the competition is fierce with new albums from Bruce Dickinson, Judas Priest, and maybe, hopefully, probably not Mercyful Fate on the horizon, but for the time being, Traveler reigns supreme yet again, proudly waving the threepeat banner with Prequel to Madness.
10 out of 10
Label: No Remorse Records
Genre: Heavy Metal
For fans of: Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Riot