STALLION - Rise And Ride
January 9, 2015, 9 years ago
(High Roller)
One of the few homegrown old school sounding acts on this boutique German label, preferring to scour the planet for old demos and under-serviced releases from long since dead (albeit often newly resurrected) acts. Stallion play vintage '80s, traditional metal: acquired taste high pitched vocals, simple, repetitive rhythms, perfect for headbanging and fist pumping, without spilling your beer (Oh so important in Deutschland). The title track leads things off, with a Saxon “Crusader” style voiceover, then “Wild Stallions” ups the ante, veering towards speed metal, at its best points. Ditto “Stigmatized”. Still something about that yelping voice that proves unsettling, especially after numerous songs. A chugging Judas Priest inspired “Canadian Steele” demonstrates the right balance, while the rollicking “Bill To Pay” owes a debt to frequent touring partners Bullet. Dig the old school guitar tone which introduces “The Devil Never Sleeps”. Sure, a 30 minute summer festival slot would be fun to witness, but wanted to like it more, maybe next time.
