Way back when, Grim Reaper we’re right up there in the early NWOBHM history as a band going places.
Spitting out two top-notch albums in See You in Hell and Fear No Evil. Major success in touching distance, playing to big crowds in America blah blah blah then it went wrong.
However main man Steve Grimmett is a hard man to keep down and resurrected Reaper.
Now we have the rather excellent At the Gates which serves as more testimony to Grimmett’s longevity and ability to crank out an album bristling with power and harking back to the good old days.
Eleven tracks here full of brutal riffage, superb shredding, massive rhythm section and of course Grimmett’s powerful vocal delivery. Not without its melody and hooks either. This is a cracker of an album which delivers in spades.
The title track starts things off hitting squarely between the eyes with a crunching riff and scorching guitar work.
Venom also – check out the intro – short, brutal. Then the song develops in to a memorable more melodic rocker with a bit chorus. Catchy too. Tasty.
And so it goes over the remainder. Particular highlights including The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Rush and Only When I Sleep.
Guitarist Ian Nash is “all over it” banging out those big riffs and nifty fireworks on the fretboard. Here’s Venom – have a listen and you’ll see/hear how Grim Reaper most certainly still “rock” – and hard – without losing those New Wave of British Heavy Metal roots.
In the CD booklet, the dedication starts: “So here it is, and well worth the wait.” I most certainly agree with that sentence.
At the Gates is first rate mixing “old school” NWOBHM with a big, modern, fresh sound. Powerful, hits hard.
>> GRIM REAPER AT THE GATES AVAILABLE FROM AMAZOM HERE <<
Coming soon – new ones from Angelwitch and the Tygers of Pan Tang. And a trip back to the past with Tyrant – remember them form the old days?
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