VANLADE
Rage Of The Gods
2015 Metalizer Records
Kansas City-based VANLADE released their second album, Rage Of The Gods in September, the follow-up to 2012’s Iron Age. The band’s lineup consists of guitarists Zach Vänlade and Vinnie Lee Camarillo, bassist Nikky Skorcher, vocalist Brett Blackout Scott and drummer Nolan Weber.
Rage Of The Gods is split into two acts; the first begins with the title track, a chugging riff-filled instrumental. From there, “Frozen For All Time” introduces Scott’s vocals, who simply cannot contain his enthusiasm. His squeals of metallic delight begin the second the song does. This fantastic up-tempo track has an excellent and catchy main riff and plenty of galloping double bass drumming. “Jaws Of Life” is a heavier and meaner track, featuring a blistering solo and shredding guitar work from Vänlade and Camarillo. “Hail The Protector” is a killer anthem, with shout-along backing vocals. A perfect track to get the crowds fired up. “Hellrazor” is a pure speed metal attack. “Hail” and "Hellrazor” are among my favorites on the album.
The second act begins with “Moonbound”, an instrumental with some excellent riffs and grooves. This sets up “Aeons Of Madness”, an epic that is nearly nine minutes. This song has several great parts, including a break down that allows all the members of the band to show off. “Acid Reign” and “Carnicidal” are both solid tracks featuring more incredible riffing and over the top singing from Scott. The album closes with its strongest and longest track, “As Above, So Below”. Lots of IRON MAIDEN influence on this track, and there’s nothing wrong with that!
Rage Of The Gods has 10 tracks, with a running time of just over an hour. From the band’s image, to the album cover, to the songs themselves, VANLADE takes heavy inspiration from the golden age of heavy metal, (particularly from NWOBHM bands like JUDAS PRIEST and IRON MAIDEN), as well as more recent bands like ENFORCER and CAULDRON. But there is some thrash influence here as well. (Bands like MEGADETH, OVERKILL and METALLICA come to mind). To be honest, VANLADE smokes a lot of these bands and just destroys their contemporaries.
With soaring lead and shout-along backing vocals, crunching harmony guitars, and speedy riffs, the skills of speed and power metal are on full display. Mastering of the album was handled by guitarist Stu ‘Hammer’ Marshall (DEATHDEALER/BLASTED TO STATIC/EMPIRES OF EDEN) in his studio in Sydney, Australia and the album really has that classic sound to it. This band has a real talent for capturing the true heavy metal spirit, and Rage Of The Gods is a real treat. Highly recommended!
5.0 Out Of 5.0
