Somewhere in between the classic days of the NWOBHM (think Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Angel Witch, Saxon, Satan, and Diamond Head) and early Fates Warning, Inner City Wolves, the debut from the oddly named Australian act Johnny Touch is a journey back in time to vintage metal sounds. The cool cover art even screams 1983 with its badass female soldier riding on top of a menacing looking wolf through an apocalyptic setting. Tunes like "The Metal Embrace", "Lady Stutter", "It's Alright", and "Dishonourable Discharge" contain plenty of crunchy riffs and blazing lead guitar solos to go along with memorable anthemic hooks, while the melodic "End of Daze" almost sounds like a leftover from Judas Priest's Point of Entry album. The band even pulls out some prog on the moody "Black Company", a must hear for any fan of Awaken the Guardian era Fates Warning. Overall, Inner City Wolves is a cool traditional metal album; from the production, to the musicianship, and all the way down to the songwriting, Johnny Touch have harnessed a period in time quite well here. Now, if only they would consider a new name...
Track Listing
1) It's Alright
2) The Metal Embrace
3) Lady Stutter
4) Radiation Axeposure
5) Dishonourable Discharge
6) End of Daze
7) Bitch of a Son
8) Black Company
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