Crusader is a four-piece hard rock/heavy metal band from London, UK. The lineup consists of Tommy Baptiste on vocals, Kyle Stevens on guitars, Scott Rae on bass, and Nik K. on drums. Drawing heavily from the glory days of 1980s melodic hard rock and metal, they bring forward a style that is instantly familiar but full of personality. The band released their debut EP, “In For The Kill,” independently in 2025 and have already drawn praise from critics and fans across Europe and beyond.
"In
For The Kill" runs just over 14 minutes and delivers three well-crafted
tracks with clear focus. The songwriting sticks to familiar territory: driving
riffs, tight rhythm section, and melodic vocals. The opening track,
"Wanted Man," sets the pace with a strong chorus and confident
vocals. "Time (Never Stops Running)" follows with a mid-tempo beat
and a layered structure that holds the listener’s interest. The best of the three
and most representative. The title track "In For The Kill" wraps up
the EP with energy and a steady blend of hooks and leads.
The production
by Rocco Pezzin is punchy and suits the
band’s aesthetic. The instruments are evenly balanced, and the overall mix is
clear and direct. The band clearly understands their strengths and plays to
them, sticking to concise arrangements that don't feel rushed or overdone.
Vocally, Tommy Baptiste is powerful and confident, drawing influence from iconic 1980s frontmen (Coverdale/Elliott/Dokken) without sounding like a copy. Kyle Stevens provides guitar work that is precise, with a clear grasp of classic metal leads. The rhythm section supports the tracks with tight playing and solid drive.
The front
cover, featuring a roaring black panther in a style reminiscent of Tygers Of Pan Tang’s "Wildcat,"
gives an early signal of the band’s influences and direction. All three tracks
are immediate, engaging, and have that “replay value” that makes them stick
around long after they’re over. The choruses are catchy, the leads sharp, and
the songwriting never loses focus. There’s confidence in how straightforward
everything is, and the band knows exactly what
they’re doing and how to deliver it.
With “In
For The Kill,” Crusader steps onto the world
stage sounding like rockstars. This is not just a well-made debut; it's a
calling card from a band that has everything it takes to be the next big name
in melodic metal. If there’s any justice, we’ll be talking about them in the
same breath as Whitesnake or Def Leppard in the years to come.
Score: 8.7
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