Germany’s Warrant was
born in 1983, during the first wave of European speed metal, when bands like Running Wild, Living
Death, Rage and Iron Angel were setting stages on fire. The band
made an impact with their cult classics “First Strike” and “The Enforcer”,
albums that captured the pure, high-voltage sound of the time. After more than
a decade of silence, the band finally re-emerges with “The Speed Of Metal”, a
title that could have come straight from 1985.
Produced by
vocalist/bassist Jörg Juraschek, this
comeback release keeps things plain and direct. It’s fast, old-school with the
guitars being raw and upfront, driven by the twin attack of Michael Dietz and Adrian
Weiss, whose style mixes galloping riffs with classic, melodic leads.
The rhythm section is tight and energetic, and Juraschek’s
vocals sound exactly like you’d hope, gritty, loud, and full of that defiant
German spirit that made Warrant’s early work
so respected.
The
production by Martin Buchwalter at Gernhart Studios gives the album a strong, vibrant
sound without cleaning away the rasp. It’s sharp where it needs to be and keeps
the spirit of the 80s alive without sounding dated. “The Speed Of Metal” is
exactly what its title says. A fast, honest, and loud return from a band that
helped shape the early German speed metal scene. It won’t impress with anything
new but pure, nostalgic, and straightforward heavy/speed metal.
Score: 7.0
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