You know what there’s a severe lacking of? Outlaw metal. Granted, this isn’t an established subgenre per se (yet), and I’m not referring to the lyrical romanticizing of illicit activities à la Hank Williams III (remember him?) either. No, what I’m talking about is metal that makes you close your eyes and imagine yourself evading the law, long hair, denim, leather and all, running frantically through big city streets under the glow of the unforgiving moon. Sweat drips down your face, you gasp for air, and your heart beats rapidly in your throat. Your body wants to give out, but the music keeps you going.
The best example of this sound in recent years is the self titled 2019 debut album from Traveler. Sure there was a little bit of Maiden and a little bit of Priest scattered about, as is the case with every traditional metal band, but what made Traveler stand out was its earnest attempt to not blatantly sound like either. Furthermore, they nailed this “outlaw metal” sound with an emphasis on rough production, ruthless riffing, and unrelenting energy. Couple this with a batch of impeccably written songs and you’ve got a recipe for success. It was only a matter of time before more bands followed in these footsteps, starting with Venator and their debut full length, Echoes from the Gutter.
Hailing from Austria, Venator comes off as a band of rogues who live on a steady diet of old school metal and Mad Max movies. The aforementioned “outlaw metal” approach shines on the majority of Echoes, specifically on cuts like “Howl at the Rain”, “Nightrider”, and “The Hex”. If you’re looking for metal that will get your blood pumping and heart pounding, this is most certainly it! The guitar duo of Leon Ehrengruber and Anton Holzner are practically intertwined, unleashing an assault of punishing riffs and molten solos. Meanwhile, what singer Johannes Huemer lacks in stratospheric range, he makes up for in power and fury.
Although Venator never drastically deviates from their path of destruction, there are some noteworthy outlier moments. There’s the brooding, militant heaviness of “Red and Black”, which boasts a flexing of midtempo power metal muscle for good measure. This power metal influence also appears on the high speed “Manic Man” and no nonsense “Made of Light”. However, at points I’m not sure if the influence is exclusive to the songs themselves, or just evident in the production, which recalls the glory days of 80s US power metal. In true surprise fashion, the band saves the most melodic for last, with the razor sharp “Streets of Gold”. It may not be as intense as the other songs on this outing, but it sure packs a punch in a different respect.
While I have zero plans of becoming a fugitive anytime soon, Venator sure knows how to make me feel like one, just minus the boys in blue on my trail. If they continue to put out records in this vein, I can see them becoming a major force in the underground traditional metal scene. Until then, if you see me running like a madman through my upper middle class neighborhood anytime this week, chances are it’s Echoes piped through my earbuds!
8 out of 10
Label: Dying Victims Productions
Genre: Heavy Metal
For fans of: Traveler, Grim Reaper, Enforcer