ALBUM REIEW: Shotgun Rodeo triumphant on By Hook Or By Crook

ANY band that has a track dedicated to the Riffmeister General, Tony Iommi, are always guaranteed to get a listen here  and we're glad we did as Shotgun Rodeo have produced a flawed but still eminently listenable album, 'By Hook Or By Crook'.

The Trondheim-based four-piece not only have that tribute to Sabs legendary axeman, but are consciously aware of their influences throughout.

The title track nods to NWOBHM and the noughties US equivalent, while 'Blaming the Kremlin', with its overt political message, has the riffs to extend beyond those influences.

It is that political messaging that works well, and awareness of issues - such as the double-barrel blast at keyboard warriors and media manipulation by politicians on 'Bastardize The World' as singer Nino's rage oozes invective.

However, there are moments when the bravado edges too close to the FFDP territory. On 'Shooting Slugs' the excellence of the work by Don Shrediablo (What!) veers too close to what the mags label 'contemporary metal'.

That being said, when Don lets rip on other tracks he proves his worth, such as on the outstanding 'I Am The Silver Bullet', which has all the bravura of metal in its finest 80s like iteration.

Grimmo D.B. (bass) and 'Doomfang (drums) - where do these pseudonyms come from? - are clearly talented in maintaining the momentum for Nino and Don to work upon.

Closing track 'Twist of the Knife' perhaps encapsulates the album best. With the usual thrash dystopian lyrics overlaid with a riff-heavy track, use of pinch harmonics, excellent solos with space and separation to allow the song to work-out all the tropes.

Sure, there are others doing similar, but Shotgun Rodeo do it really well, leaving others in their wake.

Now that 'Tony Iommi' track...it could have been easy to fluff this tribute, but this is really, really enjoyable. Guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser their knowledge of Iommi's background and oeuvre, and a wee joke about 'Technical Ecstasy' make it worth a smile. Sure we all know about Tony - but this makes it the sort of in joke metalheads can enjoy.

With 'By Hook Or By Crook' Shotgun Rodeo faced that difficult 'second album syndrome and passed it with flying colours. Sure, there are a few times when there is too much current US metal influences, but overall you could do worse than give this a listen on a Saturday afternoon before heading out to a gig.

Ohh - and we love the cheesy cover art!

Review by Jonathan Traynor

'By Hook Or By Crook' is released by Mighty Music on August 24th.

ALBUM REVIEW: Iron Angel deliver up classic metal on Hellbound

WITH the same tortuous effort of downloading an album for review it often means that one adopts a serious demeanour: considering all the dynamics, the playing, the arrangements, and the lyrical content.

But once in a while an album lands in the inbox that just makes even the hardest hearted rock and metal reviewer smile.

In fact Iron Angel's 'Hellbound' album had all at Metal Mansions grinning from ear to fucking ear.

Nevermind then tortuous route that saw the Hamburg act rise in the 80s, split, reform in 2014 and shuffle members like a Premier League manager rotating his squad. 2018 sees Iron Angel deliver an album that is pure metal.

'Hellbound' could have been lifted from that period of the 80s that saw many a speed meta act rise, but damn it, this sounds fresh and fun.

They have delivered a slab that really is a 'Ministry of Metal'...

Each song has that riffing, a frantic rhythm section, and "grab that mic and work it" from Dirk Schroder.

The tone is set with the heads down 'Writings on the Wall' but it gets better and better with each track.

Mitsch Mever, and Robert Altenbach weave metal spells the beguile and delight. 'Carnivore Flashmob', 'Blood and Leather' and 'Purist of Sin' being great examples of their work.

To be straight this transports us back to the heyday of bands such as Accept and other Teutonic metal giants. But, this is not an album to be seen through rose-tinted glasses.

Hellbound is an album that shows a band delivering what they know and do best - there is no point trying to pretend you are something you are not.

Iron Angel play heavy metal and play it well. We smile as we launch ourselves Hellbound.

Review by Jonathan Traynor