HUNTRESS - Spell Eater
May 7, 2012, 12 years ago
California thrash-tinged heavy metal newbies HUNTRESS, led by the vivacious, self-professed white witch Jill Janus are charging their way into the metal world with their debut release, Spell Eater, albeit with a lot of hype attached to it. The platinum blonde metal vixen possesses a four octave soprano range and it would be quite easy to shatter glass with her voice. Although she is Classically-trained and has been performing in operas since the age of ten, Janus believes she was born to sing heavy metal - The Voice rules her. On the ten tracks, Janus leads an equally impressive band featuring former PROFESSOR guitarists who are well-versed in trad metal riffs and dual guitar leads. With 'Eight Of Swords', their first single/video, Janus turns to the tarot card. It has plenty of thrashy riffs, dynamics and tempo variation. The title track sees Janus display some evil, eerie histrionics with her voice and her raspy growl in 'Sleep And Death' is quite chilling as well. The whole album is loaded with old school metal influences closely associated with JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN and KING DIAMOND, as in the case with the latter on 'Senicide'. Loads of blood, talent, theatrics, sexuality and witchcraft - plus a blistering backing band, provides an entertaining element to Huntress. Janus is out to prove that she has beauty and brawn.
