Pounder are an American power trio, a heavy metal band that started life in 2017. The debut album ‘Uncivilized’ arrived in 2019. This was a pounding heavy metal monster, but this time around, they have a much better production quality, especially from the drums and vocals.
Opener ‘Spoils of War’ melodically enters the framework, the intro sounding more EU power metal. Then with the main ride kicking in, you get the picture. “We won’t live forever, we only get one chance to get it right”, indeed they came, saw and conquered as the lyrics suggested. There is a heavy British influence, much like the NWoBHM scene, but modernised with a touch of the current Swedish scene featuring in places. I love the galloping guitar as the first time/tempo change occurs and the sweet application of harmonies, oh yeah…then towards the battle ready solo. There is certainly immense quality and prowess in the delivery giving an earthy feel overall. The feel to the title track, at around 40 seconds in, is to me pure Manowar homage. It is drinking music done very well! ‘Hard Road to Home’ brings out some great vocal harmonies, it has flavours of AOR mixed with bullet belt wielding Judas Priest-esq metal. ‘Never Forever’ has some synth work at the start (I love the riffing at about the 3 minute mark), Pounder subsequently chip away at a variety of influences and present them to you in their own style, whilst slowing down to come up for air at key points…good arrangements basically and the ever-present strong vocal harmonies are fantastic. I like the lead vocal, it has a nasal/raspy tone, you can hear some higher notes wouldn’t be achieved (not for the want of trying), but the band pitch the key and level of their music in a register in a way that compliments vocalist/guitarist Matt Harvey – whom has been a live vocalist for Exodus (in 2004), is the vocalist for Gruesome, ex-guitarist in Repulsion, current Exhumed vocalist…the list goes on. British guitarist Tom Draper also plays for Carcass and has had stints in Angel Witch, Crowning Glory, Savage Messiah and Primitai. Overall, there are mountains of experience within Pounder. Closing the album is ‘Deadly Eyes’, a fast track that adds more power metal flavourings, but pure metallic in construction.
Indeed, ‘Give Me Rock’, that’s what one of the tracks calls for and that is what this album does. The songs commit to memory, it’s meaner and crisper with its fresh production quality and the songs themselves take you out of this current pandemic nightmare to a time when all were care free and able to enjoy music a touch easier than the current climate dictates. It’s normally at this point I say let’s see some live shows, who knows, perhaps we will. Pounder will be good addition to your music collection. It may not be out of the box different, this sub-genre I would hope wouldn’t go that way…but it is fun, exciting and commits to memory which is a key feature.
(8/10 Paul Maddison)
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