Controversial fact of the day: In my brain, good speed metal pisses all over thrash. Yeah you’re right: Another pointless bit of subdividing to conquer and probably untrue to boot. It’s just I feel it never gets the love it deserves so I go a bit over the top. More than any other genre of our beloved metal it lives or dies by the hook and the riff and the melody. Its energy levels need to be through the roof of even the house that thrash built. Oh, and it seriously benefits from having, y’know, an actual singer. And the really funny thing is it’s a genre that loads of bands have dipped their toes in for a song here and there.
Finland’s Speedtrap, however, got… Er…trapped.
Which mostly proves there is a goddess and she loves speed metal.
What we have here are four young guys (least I guess young from the photo) Jori Sara-Aho the vocals, Markus Hietamies on bass guitar, Villa Valavuo guitars and Miika Keranen drumming. The PR makes mention of hardcore punk but between you and me I scraped this right back to the bone and found this quartet cranking out nothing but straight down the line heavy metal direct from some mother lode overlooked for too long.
Right from the off with ‘Redemption Of Might’ we have that Motorhead engine shaking itself from zero to ninety in a cough and a hyper blast of blues drum and bass with that perfect guitar tone suddenly blasting out, layering NWOBHM melody and 80s speed metal acceleration with ridiculously dexterous fretboard fingers. And the vocals? Well fuck me if they aint about perfect; gruff, strained but superbly tuneful and given to the occasional gymnastic flourish and giving this whole damn album the feeling of an out of control coal wagon careering round corners on rails that barely contain it, sparks flying in all directions. Heavy as a truckload of scrap iron and just as unstoppable.
Listening to this album is like trying to keep hyperactive puppies on a sugar and beer rush in a box; the energy just keeps on pouring out no matter what you do. The driving hooks of Motorhead and Speedwolf cranked well over the top with the intensity of Judas Priest and Wolf at their best and a tune that just won’t quit until the next one. On ‘Out Of Time, Out Of Line’ they remind you that whilst Speedtrap don’t do even mid-paced they have gears and this is a rhythm driven steel toe-capped boot bass and drum stomp of a monster. Street metal, scruffy, boozed up and snotty it manages the totally impossible: I suddenly remember what it was like to be young and I’m hitting all four walls, rocking out like a loon and not caring. Tomorrow is going to hurt. And worse the title track just breaks the last speed limiter straight after with some fantastic lead work that surely must snap tendons. ‘Battle Cry’ is the kind of song that the likes of Bullet and Wolf would probably do bad things to have written and here it is, flicked out on a blues metal riff and a maddeningly catchy chorus and just buzzing past but dragging you with it.
Yeah, this is a band who make you feel like you’re right there, riding shotgun in whatever speeding vehicle they’ve stolen that night. ‘Reckless Endangerment’ ? Fuck yes. For the older amongst you, do you remember the exuberance and energy when you first heard that debut Def Leppard EP? This is Get Yer Rocks Off at three times the velocity and every bit as infectious, bouncing around a classy set of vocals and melody that will have necks snapping, beer flying and throats ripped raw. ‘No Sympathy’ crashes through the final barrier in a fireball explosion of breathless lyrics, scampering riff and screeching lead.
Boom.
So what do they do wrong? Honestly? Nothing. Not one thing. Eight songs making an album around the half hour mark might seem short to Dream Theater fans but it is spot on perfect for speed metal. And they are eight distinct songs that are dirty, grit encrusted heavy metal gems. The production is excellent, keeping the compelling tarnish and never approaching slick and pristine. The playing is tight and energetic and just bursting with fun at every turn. In short this is one headlong rush of totally enthralling, enjoyable heavy fucking metal. Hell I even like the cover!
They just need to keep doing this. Room to hone songwriting, yes, to tighten maybe but frankly first album and they are already further on than most get by their second or third.
Powerdose leaves you flat on your back in a bar, soaked in sweat and beer and grinning insanely. What more do you want…..?!
(9/10 Gizmo)
https://www.facebook.com/speedtrapmetal
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