This is actually the debut by curiously named Catalonia/Barcelona heavy/speed metal band Redshark. They formed in around 2012 and have a couple of EPs behind them but it looks like they had a couple of major line-up upheavals in 2016 and 2019 and so this is their debut.
And…
‘The Drill State’ just kinda bolts out of the gate in a flurry of drums and galloping riff. The vocals from Pau Correas are rough but absolutely spot on – think Bruce Dickinson without the air raid siren, Wolf’s Niklas Stalvind and the edge of good old Udo. It’s what I’d call a classic opener; in your face bellow of metal. But the follow up ‘Never Too Late’ is where things coalesce. This has a hook big enough to land a goddamned whale, the vocals, lead and backing, are just huge and the melody lines and guitar runs just fantastic.
The title track has a strange almost grim atmosphere, the kind that Wolf can bring. See these are all great names that come to.mind which just exemplifies how fast Redshark have shot out of the blocks here.
A nice bit of synthwave precedes ‘Mars Recall’. This is a song full of a Canadian style with fluid tempo changes and melodic blood. It veers round corners in perfect speed metal style and skill before rushing into the stunning ‘Kill Your Idol’, subtly dropping War Inside My Head into the lyrics and a whole other bunch of stuff this just rips straight through.
‘The Death Rides’ is a bit of a hammer, aggressive as anything and a brawl.in a song, whereas ‘Burning Angels’ brings is an epic in five minutes, power metal touches to the grandiose theme but them guitars just hammering away to keep it screaming on the right side.
‘Pallid Hands’ is a slow, downbeat number that…has a strange but very noticeable nod towards Judas Priest’s ‘Beyond The Realms Of Death’ but is taken in a sufficiently different direction with a lovely refrain. But roots do show.
They close with ‘I’m Falling’. Once more picking up the riffs and the speed and closing the album in fine style.
All in all this is a very good debut and a great addition to the very healthy heavy/speed metal scene. It is full of individual songs, great guitars and vocals and tight song-writing. The energy is kept high and the production is just about right with not too much gloss on their sound. Weighing in at a perfect just about 40 minutes it has no fat, no filler and a streamlined personality with enough edge to it to tear as it speeds past.
Highly recommended for your heavy metal fix. And the cover is a hoot too.
(8/10 Gizmo)
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