Coming out of the chute with a wild abandon that unleashes the fury of
Hellrazor, the title track In The Wild introduces you to the classic
heavy metal style of this hard working and hard rockin' band from North
Carolina. Shades of the thunderous stadium rockers of the past collide with the
spirit and brutal nature of today's heavy music scene on this booming assault of
guitar driven hardcore metal.
Led by singer Alan Rueda, whose vocals fall somewhere in between the growl of
James Hetfield and the voice of the original Hellraiser, Lemmy Kilminster, this
band gives you a dose of how metal should be done today. With one foot still
firmly planted in the world of the heavy metal icons of the past, they carry the
torch into the realm of modern hardcore.
With guitar blazing, Charley Shackleford creates the sound that defines the
band. As the only guitarist in this four piece unit, it is his duty to carry the
music to the masses. He handles this with surprising ease and a spirit that is
at the core of what this band stands for. As he puts it, "We make music for the
headbangers who like to drink". There is no doubt in my mind that both are in
adequate supply when he unleashes his six string. This album is sure to be the
background for much debauchery and general mayhem. It is unrelenting pure rock
and roll that will fuel the beast lurking within. On the front cover is the
mascot of the band, the "Hellrazor" himself. Charley told me that a lot of the
album is the exploits and the misadventures of the ultimate hardcore warrior
pictured on the disc. As you hear about the damage he does and also done to him,
it will make you look forward to the further escapades of our hero on upcoming
releases.
The furious speed and tempo of the band are regulated by the duo of Dave
Sanchez on bass and Chuck Giardino on drums. Dave's bass lines are a headbangers
dream while Chuck is a fire ball when he needs to be. As the band changes pace,
this pair makes sure that they are kept on the straight and narrow.
If there is any complaint to the disc, it is that some of the mixes could
have been better. There are times when the loud guitars seem to overwhelm the
vocals. One of my favorite songs off the album, Darker Days, is hurt by this
quite a bit. It is a small point and one that I am sure will be remedied with
more exposure and additional funds for the recording process.
If you are looking for music to just let loose to, this is a real "Hold my
beer, watch this" type of metal mayhem. Load it into the player, fire up the
truck and with a nod to the South ala Pantera, these guys may lead you into all
sorts of carnage. They are destined to be one of the bands that bridge the gap
between the old and the new. That is not surprising to me since Charley
mentioned that he had Alice Cooper's Billion Dollar Babies in his truck right
now. It just proves that it is as important for a band to remember where they
come from as it is to plan where they are going.
Track Listing
1. In The Wild
2. Hellrazor
3. The Pawn
4. Darker Days
5. Possession
6. passing Hour
7. Stacked Up
8. Ride or Die
9. 3AM
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