SDeathPo they’re called Death Penalty (after the Witchfinder General album for the slower amongst you), they consist of Gaz Jennings (ex-Cathedral, guitars), Michelle Nocon and Frederik Cosemans (vocals and bass respectively, both listed as ex-Serpentcult, so another memo I missed there…) and Raf Meukens (ex-Gorath, drums). Doom, anyone? Actually, this lot are too talented to be that predictable and dismissed that easily you’ll be glad to hear.

From the opening riff of ‘Howling At The Throne Of Decadence’ it’s plain that though it has its moments of doom, there is a bright, vibrant updated NWOBHM feel here. The riff bounces so much, aided beautifully by some fine drumming, you end up looking for the steel springs. Also if you’re unfortunate enough never to have heard Michelle Nocon’s voice before, here she is spot on; sharp and maybe even a little shrill but honestly in a good way. Like the music there is such life in her voice, a verve that bends itself to both downturned doom and cantering rockers. With the gutsy bass adding meat and darkness you end up with a way above the average crew bristling with hook-lines.

Part of me wants to stop and wonder how long Gaz Jennings has been sitting on these NWOBHM heavy rooted firecrackers. I mean unless there’s been some serious rearranging here hardly any of them seem like obvious Cathedral material. Yes having been part of that sound for so long there are always going to be reminders unless a musician skips genres all together, but apart from that it’s the sense of freedom that gets you here. Everyone says it after their main band closes, but this really does feel like a burst of released energy, taking it as a chance to explore their own route. Listen to the bona fide goddam axe hero soloing on ‘Children Of The Night’ and atmospheric closing epic ‘Written By The Insane’, feel that melody and tone just shivering through you, perfect classic heavy metal, and tell me this isn’t a guy playing for the sheer love of the music.

There are plenty of doom moments here, don’t worry your little doom-heads. ‘She Is A Witch’ is a dreamy, slow number weaving around Michelle Nocon’s softer registers with gentle, restrained chugging riff broken up by flowing medley, but even this kicks out an absolutely storming midsection gallop full of drum and bass power. And then you get bloody barnstormers like the Motorhead meets Rock Goddess ‘Immortal By Your Hand’ with a snapping and snarling Nocon tearing the place up brilliantly. Man, it makes you glad to be alive.

Often here it is these melodies that get you. Songs like ‘Eyes Of The Heretic’ have a gorgeous, rich hook-line refrain, a deep twist of melancholy maybe or yearning and a rootsy heavy metal feel. The lead breaks are universally excellent too with a nice gnarly sound that reeks of honesty and craft. When they go full on doom like ‘The One That Dwells’ they contrast light with dark, using Michelle Nocon’s voice to its full extent; quiet one moment and full on with the dense riffing the next but carrying the tune through both perfectly. It really is a very British sound too, despite the band being three quarters Belgian; full of a sound born from the bluesy classics of Sabbath and Motorhead but stretching up through the lean NWOBHM sound with Saxon, Witchfinder General, Rock Goddess (as well as bits that remind old souls like me of Runestaff, Geddes Axe and Dark Star) and up into the modern world of heavy metal to flex these fresh muscles with grit and grunt and a pumping vitality.

A tight unit, all firmly on the same page and a fully flowered sense and live of what proper heavy metal is about. You really can’t go wrong with this. One listen to the guitar tone in the riffs and the infectious melodies and you’ll be captured. Really it’s a magnificent debut. Heavy metal fans just buy it, it’s out now.

(9/10 Gizmo)

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