After the somewhat disappointing 2013 reunion CD Surrender To No One, veteran metal act Chastain seem to have ironed out the kinks for their follow-up We Bleed Metal. David T. Chastain (guitars), Leather Leone (vocals), Mike Skimmerhorn (bass), and Stian Kristoffersen (drums) this time around have delivered pretty much what we've come to expect from this outfit. The songs here on We Bleed Metal border on thrashy power metal, filled with Leone's gravelly yet soaring vocals, mountainous riffs & solos from Chastain, and speedy, rock solid rhythms, all housed within fairly catchy, anthemic, and heavy songs. The raging title track and "All Hail the King" both bring to mind German metal titans Primal Fear, as Chastain riffs like a madman underneath histrionic screams from Leone, while the slower, grinding "Search Time For You" feels like a head on collision between Pantera and Black Sabbath. Chastain unleashes a torrent of blazing leads and punishing riffs on the crushing "Don't Trust Tomorrow", and mixes some neo-classical noodling with epic metal on the bombastic "I Am a Warrior". Perhaps the sleeper track here is "The Last Ones Alive", a perfect example of what this band is capable of when they are firing on all cylinders, Leone soaring over complex rhythms (Kristoffersen is unbelievable on this track), huge riffs, and sizzling shred courtesy of Chastain. Most importantly, the song is quite memorable with plenty of anthemic moments. "Secrets" is another winner, quite possibly the heaviest track on an album full of them, with snarling riffs from the leader that shows he still has plenty of them up his sleeve.
If you were looking for the perfect sequel to Ruler of the Wasteland and The 7th of Never when Surrender To No One came out and were let down, give Chastain another chance as I think they have accomplished just that here on We Bleed Metal. This is classic heavy metal the way it ought to sound.
Track Listing
1. We Bleed Metal
2. All Hail The King
3. Against All The Gods
4. Search Time For You
5. Don't Trust Tomorrow
6. I Am A Warrior
7. Evolution of Terror
8. The Last Ones Alive
9. Secrets
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