EXXPLORER - Vengeance Rides An Angry Horse
October 19, 2011, 13 years ago
(Pure Steel)
Anyone looking for Symphonies Of Steel, part 2 is going to be mildly disappointed. That said, the reunited/resurrected New Jersey metallers kick off with ‘Gypsy’, which retains the classic 80s sound, as well as killer solo and some high pitched vocals. Definitely a step in the right (retro) direction. Speaking of highs, check out Lennie Rizzo’s vocal register on the infectious romp ‘Chasing The High’. There’s a full blown 4:01 instrumental, ‘The Vengeance’ and chugging old school ‘As The Crow Flies’. However the latter half of the disc (apart from lively ‘Valley Of Doom’) deviates into non-traditional, slightly more commercial (‘S.N.O.E.’ and Sunset Strip inspired ‘Freight Train To Hell’) material. Haven’t heard a guitar tone like ‘Spirits Of The Wind’ in years! There are nine tracks on the proper album, with ‘Return Of The Cycle’ a European bonus. It kind of goes without saying, but explore this option.
