Is this the New Wave of French Heavy Metal…….? I was recently contacted to see if I’d like to review this CD. Having not heard of Gang before and with the email citing NWOBHM influences then of course I said yes….The CD arrived along with a bit of a bio which was welcome for some background to Gang. Prior to this my only exposure to French-style rock is the rather superb Shakin’ Street. Back around 1980 as a teenager I was slightly (oh OK them, a lot) in love with Fabienne Sheen as well as their music and still am today. But this is a Gang review….
The bio tells me their history stretches back a quarter of a century with Inject the Venom being their sixth album. Influences cited as NWOBHM/Scorpions/Sabbath – or “old school heavy metal” as it’s put in the bio. All sounds very promising. So time to stop reading and start listening.
It hits the spot. Straight ahead “proper” heavy metal/rock that is adeptly delivered with verve and enthusiasm with the band sounding like they are enjoying what they are doing. The New Wave of British Heavy Metal influences are obvious (great) and there’s plenty of variation in the tracks. One can identify bits of Judas Priest, Scorps, Helloween, Saxon on top of Gang’s attack and it all fits together rather well indeed. These boys know what they are doing.
The twin guitars are at the forefront (and why wouldn’t they be….). Powerful riffage indeed to give the cuts some edge. When one is ripping up a solo the other lays down serious rhythm to keep all you Ed Bangers very ‘appy. A big drum and bass sitting behind it. And the vocals are Halfordesque.
It grabbed me from first song to last. The production does sound to me slightly ropey. Perhaps affected by the budget, I don’t know. If Inject the Venom did have a big production job it’d be immense.
Each song rips in to you. Though it’s not all rat-tat-tat – the different styles applied show the talent on offer. Bits of NWOBHM, bits of power metal, bits of thrash, bits of melodic and overall a tasty “proper” heavy metal offering.
As examples aforementioned variation and styles – the opening couple are straight ahead rockers with punch. Midnight (instrumental) reminds me of the Scorpions classic Coast to Coast, their cover of Tokyo Blade’s If Heaven is Hell is sublime. Epic. Pleased I had the opportunity to review and discover a new band. Recommended listening.
>> BAG YOUR COPY OF INJECT THE VENOM BY GANG <<
More about the band:
http://gang.believeband.com
http://www.facebook.com/gang51
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