There is plainly something in the (salt) water up there in Salt Lake City. After the mighty Visigoth here comes Blood Star with their debut. Founded in 2017 by erstwhile Visigoth guitarist Jamison Palmer, along with bass and drums Noah Hadnutt and Tyler Barrani and vocalist Madeline Smith (no not the Hammer actress, silly people…) they have released three singles including an absolutely cracking cover of Uriah Heep’s ‘Too Scared To Run’ before this, their debut full length.
So it’s just kinda Visigoth with female vocals is it? Ah, no. Not even close. Which is just one reason why this album is so good.
‘All For Nothing’ is as good a piece of stall setting as you could wish for; a lovely driving riff and Ms Smith’s melodic voice taking control immediately. They don’t even leave you hanging for the refrain; it hits quickly as the speedy riff whips out and them there hooks just glide in under your skin. It is just the kind of heavy metal/hard rock that just puts a big smile on my face and sends me rushing into my memories. It’s a sound that has that whisper of NWOBHM but mostly has a heart of the early 80s and (curiously) some of the Canadian bands around then – Toronto, 1994, even Lee Aaron. Just a bit you understand. Or maybe it just rouses those great memories somehow?
‘Fearless Priestess’ I cannot deny has a little to the structure that reminds me of Visigoth, but the melody is sweeter. A nice stomp to the riff, some cool drum work and a very live feel to the solo too. It’s a lovely follow up even if I did keep hearing the lyrics ‘Ice Queen’ as ‘ice cream’…. ‘No One Wins’ really hits the accelerator again, oddly reminding me just a tad of Stryker but that’s probably just me. Whatever it is just a joy to hear; driving riff, great solo, fantastic bass work pushed to the fore and a great feel of thunder in the lower register riff. The vocals are spot on, perfect for some classic metal with power, range and expression.
It all sounds like a band really loving the hell out of doing what they do.
Then comes ‘The Observers’ and the mood shifts. Keyboard intro and a strangely darker riff when suddenly the influence of Blue Oyster Cult is rising high. Higher as male lead vocals take over. The fluid guitar working with the keyboards, the lilt to the melody and those Buck Dhamra little runs of notes, the great backing vocals, the feeling of paranoia to the lyrics are so redolent of BOC. I mean I can almost hear Eric Bloom crooning over this. It’s a great song and a neat change of pace and there’s still enough of Blood Star to make it work especially when it closes with Madeline Smith taking the vocals back.
A short instrumental, slow acoustic guitar and gentle keyboards in ‘Dawn Phenomenon’ is a bridge into ‘Cold Moon’. Another great riff and melody, a rougher edge to the guitar matched by the vocals and a great chorus. This is the kind of quality songwriting I expect from High Spirits or similar. Just so good. Pure 80s style tune just with a fresh modern zest. ‘Going Home’ is so full of yearning, the kind of song that no matter how bad your voice, any self-respecting meta-lhead should be singing along at the top of their broken voice. And once more Smith uses the edge in her voice to perfection. Oh man this is too good.
They close out with a stormer, ‘Wait To Die’. Foot to the floor, drums galloping and notes flicking and flying and those vocals spreading like fiery wings. Classic heavy metal, heads down shaking, metal queen striding forwards and all in all just a fantastic celebration of why we love this music so goddamn much.
I picked this at random from the review lists, just wondering what a bit of heavy metal might do for me, hoping it was halfway decent. After this album finished for the third or fourth time I realised how many memories it had stirred; not just being a teenager or a young lad but albums I’d bought, albums I haven’t listened to for years and now need to. Legendary AOR to fist pumping heavy metal, UK, US, Canadian heroes of mine, a life spent in this world and where my soul first grew. And that in 2023 it can sound as fresh as ever.
It made me feel old, and young and then not giving a shit about years. It reminded me that I am metal to the core and they did it with eight fantastic tracks, zero filler and just the perfect attitude.
Blood Star, thank you. You made an old thing remember I’m still kicking.
(9/10 Gizmo)
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