Sanhedrin | Heat Lightning | Metal Blade Records

 

Ten years in, Sanhedrin continue to channel the weight and character of classic heavy metal without sounding like a nostalgia act. With “Heat Lightning,” the Brooklyn trio present their most focused and high-voltage offering so far—an album built on sincerity, strong chemistry, and lived-in intensity.

From the opening moments of “Blind Wolf”, the tone is set: stripped-down, forceful, and built to move. The band’s fixation with control and power dynamics, both personal and societal, gives the album its lyrical grit. “Heat Lightning,” the title track, stretches into more melodic terrain while tackling the disconnect between nature and civilization with poetic defiance.

“The Fight Of Your Life” taps into the heartbeat of career musicianship—not the glamorous side, but the unshakable pull toward making music regardless of consequence. There’s no romanticizing here—just a clear-eyed depiction of what it means to keep going. Tracks like “Franklin County Line” race forward with punkish energy, while “King Of Tides” brings a slow, crushing weight, driven by a vividly told tale of paranoia and fear in the early colonial world.

The production, handled by Matt Brown and Jerry Farley at Bearsville Studios, adds punch and presence without overworking the sound. It’s a fuller, more dynamic mix compared to the band’s earlier albums, balancing grit with clarity. This is most evident on “Let’s Spill Some Blood”, a grinding anthem that rides a hypnotic riff into a rousing, fist-raising refrain.

Throughout the nine songs, Erica Stoltz leads with a measured, direct vocal delivery that avoids theatricality and instead keeps things grounded. Jeremy Sosville’s guitar work is tasteful, melodic, and well-timed—his solos arrive with purpose. Nathan Honor holds it all together with precision and power, providing shape to songs that switch tempo and mood without losing direction.

By moving away from their past collaborator and working in a new environment, Sanhedrin have managed to sharpen their sound while holding true to what they are: a band that thrives on connection—between players, between ideas, and between listener and sound. “Heat Lightning” doesn’t chase trends. It doesn’t overthink its message. It does the one thing all great heavy metal albums should: it speaks—clearly, forcefully, and without compromise. Honest, forceful, and steeped in tradition without being trapped by it.

Score: 8/10