Album Review-Grim Reaper: Walking In The Shadows

"Walking In The Shadows" is the fourth album by Heavy Metal group Grim Reaper and was released on September 23rd, 2016. I for one have always loved Grim Reaper especially since they are a band, if you took the core of what Heavy Metal is, it is these guys. Steve Grimmett has always been a vocalist I have admired because he utilized his voice very well. Now here we are almost thirty years since the release of "Rock You To Hell" with a fresh new lineup and Grimmett still in the front man position. I also will note that because Steve's name is above the title, I still consider this part of the Grim Reaper discography even if it is more of a reformation. But how does this album stack up compared the unholy trilogy? Lets find out.


Track Rundown


1.Wings Of Angels- Opening with the sound of a war plane soaring through the sky, this song goes right into that classic NWOBHM riffing. Right away you can tell that Steve doesn't sing as high as he used to. Some vocalists this is a make or break scenario. I think Grimmett carries enough charisma in his singing where it still fits, he still has a bit of that gruff as well. The production obviously isn't as reverbed as it was back in the day but it has more of a garage-ish feel here which I dig. The chorus is very strong which always has been a strong thing for the Reaper. The solo is pretty good but not mind blowing. I think this is an great opening song and it is great to hear this lost band from the eighties to come to rise again.

2.Walking In Shadows- The first single off the album and I have to say since the first day I heard it, it is just as catchy. Again the chorus carries that heavy melodic feeling which I never tire of. A great song that could be a classic in their discography.

3.Reach Out- This sounds a bit like it could have been on "See You In Hell" but that is what I expect from the band, this is their style of playing and its like AC DC or Motorhead, it it aint broke dont fix it. Another great rocking tune!

4.I'm Coming For You- I like the guitar that almost sounds its going backwards in the beginning it is a cool touch. The verses are pretty catchy and show of Steves more soaring vocals where it just glides so smoothly on top of all the instrumentation. It is another great song that really keeps the album going at a consistent pace.

5.From Hell- We got the Hell song! as we all know Grim Reaper are known for inserting Hell into all their albums themes. Hey who cares though its their thing.This song definitely has more of that old school speed metal feel that is of course always welcome. The new line up I think injects some life as well. I forgot to mention how good the drums sound they really bounce especially with headphones in. This is easily one of the best songs on the album with everyone giving it all they got. Definitely shows that Grim Reaper are alive and well.

6.Call Me In The Morning- Another very fast track that again keeps the pace going throughout the album. The verses are very damn catchy as well and it doesn't let up, its just pure headbanging fun plain and  simple.

7.Rock Will Never Die- This is a straight up fist pumping anthem and would work very well in Grim Reapers live set I believe. The chorus picks up the tempo a bit and really lets Grimmett belt it out and I again praise for how well he utilizes his voice on this album and he still sings very damn well.

8.Temptation-  A little bit of an Overkill feel here with the double bass drumming I dig it! It adds a bit of extra power and gets to excited right from the get go. This is another song I feel that would work very well in their live set hell the whole album would! This is one of the hookiest albums ive easily heard in a long time.

9.Thunder- A bit more of a mid pace on this song. Probably the most mid paced song on the album but it still works very well and has a ballad-ish feel to it which I dig. Not a bad song

10.Now You See Me- Right back into the no nonsense heavy metal this song goes and has one of the best chorus' on the album bar none. I dig this song especially this late into the album, I still am throughout enjoying it for the consistency that they pull off.

11.Blue Murder- Opening with another epic sounding heavy metal riff, this song is very vintage sounding as well, The really quick double bass drums during the bridge his very cool it adds some extra flavor. I really get heavy vibes of "DOA" in this tune which isnt bad just makes me want to pull out my other Reaper albums now!

12.Come Hell Or High Water- A very fitting up beat closer here. Actually it is one of my favorite songs on the album as well especially when Grimmett uses more of that grit when he sings through the chorus lines. The solo is really epic too with the chants behind it, it just adds so much power to the main bulk of the solo as well. Epic closer to a really faithful comeback.


Overall, I give "Walking In The Shadows" a very solid 7.5 out of 10. Obviously in the year 2016, there is so much music out there that nothing is mind blowing to us much anymore. However, with this album, I really enjoyed it because within its simplicity is a comeback from one of the most underrated bands of the eighties. it has the hooks, the musicianship and tons of charm. This is a heavy metal album and Grim Reaper can still do it very very well. It isn't mind blowing but it is a great return from one of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal's best. I salute Grim Reaper and I salute Steve Grimmett especially for keeping the music alive after all these years.

Metallica Retrospective Part 3: Master Of Puppets

As Metallica were riding high on “Ride The Lightning” they were suddenly in a world full of competing thrash metal bands in 1985. During this year, Anthrax released “Spreading the Disease”, Slayer would release “Hell Awaits” easily their most Black Metal sounding album at the time and Megadeth would even release their debut record. Thrash metal indeed was hugely on the rise and the public were heavily taking notice. Metallica decided to trudge on and record their third record entitled “Master of Puppets” which was released March 3^rd, 1986. How did this record standout among the countless Thrash metal acts at the time and how did Metallica expand upon their formula into this album? Lets find out.

Track Rundown

1.Battery-Opening similarly to how “Fight Fire With Fire” did, this track ops for a more Spanish guitar opening to it and it really builds to the real draw to this song. The sheer power the band lets off is amazing and the production is actually a bit slicker than the previous two records as well. The bridge in the middle is very well done as well and overall makes this an extremely heavy and catchy opener. Believe it or not this was the first Metallica song I have ever heard and what a way to be introduced to this band.

2.Master Of Puppets-Quite possibly Metallica's most famous song, I mean do I even have to talk about it? We've all heard it and we know why it is a classic. It is a well written Thrash Metal track that has one of the catchiest chorus' in history.

3.The Thing That Should Not Be- This is probably the heaviest song on the album as it stays at a mid pace but the down picking riffs are just skull crushing. I like the clean to distortion segments in every verse as well it adds an interesting element. The solo I really dig to it just sounds so evil to me I love it.

4.Welcome Home(Sanitarium)- Like “Fade To Black” this song has more of a ballad feel to it with a lot of softly driven guitar parts. The chorus is again very catchy and the end of the song turns into full on speed metal. Absolutely classic in every way.

5.Disposable Heroes- My favorite song on the album for the sole reason that it is a marathon to listen to. Seriously, I don't think Metallica wrote faster song than they did on this album. The chorus is one of my favorites by the band as well for the sheer power you get from it. One of their heaviest songs too.

6.Leper Messiah-This song is very mid paced as well but with a speed metal segment more in the middle toward the end. The guitar riffs I always hum when I listen to this song because they are so damn catchy to my ears. This is another example where the mid pace makes the song sound a lot more heavy as well.

7.Orion- The second instrumental that Metallica had done as a whole at this point and is my favorite that they had ever done. I like that Cliff has probably the most standout parts as well especially in the slower bits with him playing these intricate bass lines that really add to the song. He even gets a full on bass solo as well. I feel like this was a fitting way for Cliff Burton to go out on. Even if he decided to leave the band it would have been a perfect swan song to what he is known for today.

8.Damage Inc.- The final song on the album and I dont know why but the opening always made me think of a Vietnam or world war II documentary for some reason. But anyways, This song literally grabs your ears, rips them off and burns them to a crisp. It is heavy and extremely fast and done with such precision as well. This is a perfect song for arguably Metallica's heaviest output at this time to go out on.

Overall, I give the album a solid 9.5 out of 10. I loved this record the day I first heard and it and I still love it now. Even though I prefer the production on “Ride The Lightning” as well as the songs overall, this album is still solidly written and there is a reason it is regarded as a classic as well. Unfortunately this would be the last album featuring Cliff Burton before he would be tragically killed in a bus accident. Later in '86 we would see the introduction of Flotsam and Jetsam bassist Jason Newsted, and their next output entitled “...And Justice For All” in 1988.

Metallica Retrospective Part 2: Ride The Lightning

After the success of their debut album and a successful tour supporting Raven in 1983, Metallica were picked up by a major label and headed right back into the studio to record their sophomore album. On July 27^th,1984, Metallica released “Ride The Lightning”. The album was hugely anticipated for the year and as we can all tell by now that it sold very well if not extremely better than Kill Em All did. But exactly what did Metallica expand on with this record and what made it stand out from the thousands of other records coming out at the time? Well lets throw this album into the cassette player way back when and find out.

Track Rundown

1.Fight Fire With Fire-Opening with some almost classical acoustic guitar I'm sure put off a lot of fans who first heard this in 84 but I think it is perfect because it just fads right into James' fast as fuck riffing. Right away you can hear the improvements especially in the production. The larger presence of reverb makes a lot of these songs a lot bigger than how they would have sounded if they sounded like the songs on Kill Em All as well. The chorus is very catchy and shows a lyrical change in the band to more serious subjects like war and apocalypse like so many other Thrash bands would use as their template. The solo I always catch my self listening to James and I think this song is a prime example at how rock solid of a rhythm player Hetfield really is and Lars' drumming skills have greatly improved with him using more double bass pedal more frequently. A perfect opener that absolutely grips you and doesn't let go.

2.Ride The Lightning- The title track is nothing short of a classic with more of a chugging sound then full on thrashing. Kirk's solo here is actually one of my favorites because of how well it builds from being more melodic to being a full on attack. The lyrics are catchy as hell and the vocals have a higher presence and feel a lot more mature than the last album as well. Again a great song that is a big highlight on the album.

3.For Whom The Bell Tolls-This is probably the most simple and memorable song on the album for how catchy it is. It also has probably one of the most recognizable bass lines in the beginning as well. I also think these are some of the best lyrics James has written with them being dark and catchy at the same time. This is the most mid paced song on the album but because of that it has a heavier feel with how hard everyone plays their instruments. Definitely the most recognizable song on the record.

4.Fade To Black-This is the ballad on the album and no it isn't a cheesy Poison ballad, it deals with depression and has some really killer arrangements to it. This song I actually hold a lot to me because I listened to it a lot in a dark period in my life to get me through. The end really ramps up and goes into another memorable solo by Hammett. This I think is the second most recognizable song on the record.

5.Trapped Under Ice- This song goes back to the thrashier formula the first two songs used and holds just as much originality as the first two songs and just doesn't let up at all. How James spits the lyrics it just is so damn catchy and the chorus is a favorite of mine as well. The solo is very well done as well. Another near perfect thrash metal song.

6.Escape-This song has more of a standard Heavy Metal song from the 80's and the melodies during the chorus are very interesting and I think it is a good change of pace and is definitely a very original song. The riffs are top notch as well especially at the end with the air raid sirens in the distance it just sounds so heavy.

7.Creeping Death- Easily the best written Metallica song ever. Period. The reason is because it is a thrash song yes but it is one of the most epic thrash numbers ever recorded. The verses are just absolutely sang with great precision and the lyrics are very well written as well. It also has an amazing chorus that is just so fucking epic you can't help but at least nod your head to it. The melodies in the soloing sprinkled throughout adds some variety as well and the bridge with the chugging heavy riffs while the backing vocals are screaming “Die Die Die!” is just so heavy at least for 1984 standards, there was not a lot of American bands playing this good with this much intensity and having chemistry like these four had at the time. The highlight of the album bar none.

8.Call of Ktulu- The first real instrumental Metallica recorded and it is a monolith of a closer for the album. It is very atmospheric and stays at a mid tempo most of the time and I think the thing I like the most about it is the bass. What the hell is Cliff doing in the backround? It is so crazy and wah wah'd out and frantic I think he is the busiest one in this track. It is a very well written finale and paces itself very well and without overstaying it's welcome.

Overall, I give Ride The Lightning a 9.9 out of 10. This is easily the closest you could get to having a perfect album(I just don't believe in a perfect album), and especially for their sophomore release, it is amazing to see how they have improved in a years time. Between the production values and the band expanding upon their playing capabilities, this album improves on everyone that kind of irked me about the first record and increased everything I enjoyed to eleven. However, I wished at points certain instruments were a bit louder like Cliffs bass in parts of Call of Ktulu but these are just slightly nit picks and I believe when we look at “Master of Puppets” next I believe those problems are fixed. This is easily my favorite of their first three and is a classic, a blueprint for a lot of bands to follow and next time we'll see how they continued their creative high with “Master of Puppets”.

Metallica Retrospective Part 1: Kill Em All

On November 18^th, 2016, Metallica who are undoubtedly the biggest and probably most well known Heavy Metal act ever are releasing their tenth studio album entitled “Hardwired to Self Destruct”. It has been almost a full decade since Metallica released the extremely popular Death Magnetic and being that this is a long time coming, I am going to look at each of the studio albums that made Metallica who they are today. Today I am starting all the way back at the beginning when Metallica released their debut album all the way back on July 25^th, 1983 entitled “Kill Em All”. This album surely set off a bomb and was a hint of what was to come from these guys.

Track Listing

1.Hit The Lights- I have not listened to this song in forever and it really is a welcome return. The beginning sounds a lot like Weapons “Set The Stage Alight” but since Metallica were huge fans of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal I could see the influence here. The song is classic early speed metal in America where literally no one was doing this. Kirk really shines in this song as he really rips on the solo. One of their best openers ever.

2.Four Horsemen- Metallica follow up one of the most ferocious openers they had ever written with one of the catchiest and probably most complex songs on the album. Originally known as “The Mechanix” which Megadeth later recorded on their debut album, this song has such a catchy and heavy rhythm going for it with a quieter bridge in the middle which definitely changes up the tempo and adds some flavor to a classic metal tune. I have always enjoyed James' vocals and how he just screams out a lot of the lyrics as well. Just classic.

3.Motorbreath- This song has more of that NWOBHM influence both in how it is structured and three lyrics as well. It has that punk edge to it as well which I dig. I always wished the bass peddle was a bit louder in a lot of these songs as well but it was an independent label recording. Kirk has some great quick solos here as well which I enjoy. It is a short but thrashy and catchy as hell tune.

4.Jump In The Fire- The main riff in this song just screams classic heavy metal. It isn't quite as much as a Speed Metal song as most of the others but it has that catchy element and at the time. A lot of American bands were searching for the commercial sound that would make them big. Metallica I don't think gave a shit and wanted to play music like their heroes. This song is another fine slab from a fine debut. It isn't their best to me but it still has that raw edge from a young and very hungry sounding heavy metal band.

5.Anesthesia(Pulling Death)- A distorted, wah wahed out solo from Cliff Burton is all this track is and it definitely surprised the hell out of me in junior high. I always thought how the hell could you make a bass sound like that?! He really nails it down to and the jam between him and Lars at the end makes it even better. Just an absolute awesome little jam in the middle of the album that leads into one of Metallica's fastest songs.

6.Whiplash- This song comes right out of the gates and it isn't fucking around. The beginning builds so well with the pounding drums and open e chords and just explodes. It is essentially Metallica's “We're here to fuck shit up song” and It is catchy as hell. If someone asked me to explain early thrash metal, I would just tell them tom listen to this song. The solo, the chorus just everything really gets you going with this song.

7.Phantom Lord- The is my second favorite Metallica song so I am kind of biased on it. It is a relatively simple speed metal song with a catchy quick chorus to it. I just really think the chemistry between all four members is just so electric and that is why I enjoy it so much. Kirks solo really ramps up and culminates at the end of an almost acoustic but quick bridge it just gets me so ramped up every time I here it because it seems to only get louder. A heavy, catchy and fast number that is to me the biggest highlight.

8.No Remorse- This song is paced a bit more like jump in the fire as it almost has a diamond head like feel to the riffs which to most of us, is obvious. It has some interesting riffs in it and still retains that catchy feel to it ( a word I am going to use a shit ton throughout these reviews). The end turns into a full thrash metal assault and ends on a really heavy mark.

9.Seek And Destroy- Definitely the only song off this album that ever receives airplay on the local station and I can see why. It is definitely a more mid paced song but probably the catchiest on the album with awesome hooks all the way through the chorus. The middle of the song goes more for the harder and faster tempo and leads back into the main bulk into the song. James' voice especially on this song is just so classic sounding I don't know why but it just works so damn well.

10.Metal Militia- Metallica fire off on all cylinders with this song. It is a thrash staple and ends the album on a heavy as fuck note with the sounds war blasting through the speakers as the band jam their asses off ti they fade away.

Overall, the very first outing from Metallica is a really high note and for some groups coming out this hi9gh on top can almost be career crippling. I give the album a solid and I mean very solid 8 out of 10 only because Metallica prove on later albums that they can play even better but that is for another time. Next we are looking at Metallica's 1984 sophomore effort entitled “Ride The Lightning”