New Wave of British Heavy Metal survivors Sparta have a very tasty new album. No Retreat No Surrender shows that old NWOBHM-ers remain relevant and a-rockin’ hard to this day.
What the band has put out here is an album full of in yer face, fist pumping bludgeon riffola make no mistake. Nine superb songs to get your blood up.
One can imagine the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae using the album for a spot of pre-battle preparation. Who knows, the outcome may have been different if they had…..
The title cut kicks things off. Powerful. Anthemic. Noise, riffs, screaming solos, moody vocals. It’s great stuff straight out of the traps. That gives way to the slashing chords of Dark of Your Mind followed by a proper cruncher in Right to Fight. Basic, to the point, hard, heavy. Gets your head a-bangin’ (if you’re still young enough to get away with stuff like that unlike myself) and your foot a-tappin’.
Next we’re back to the 1980s for the epic Lords of Time. Just over seven minutes of powerchords, changes of pace, twists and turns and excellent fretwork. A song written approaching fourty years ago sounds fresh as the proverbial daisy. The guitars really shine here. The entire sone has a bit of a mystical/proggy undercurrent too. Deceptively complex.
Land of Mystery is a fast-paced affair with another anthemic-style shout-along chorus segueing in to the so cheesy its impossible to resist Stand Up for Heavy Rock and Metal. A gentle, soulful ballad – yeah, right. A straight between the eyes blast more like.
Next we’re back in epic territory with another seven-minuter – Flight of the Storm King. Karl Reders stretches out his pipes on this one for some measured melody amongst the mayhem.
Victory closes out proceedings with yet another proper rocker. This time one which creeps up on you a bit before biting. Here’s a video to enjoy:
https://youtu.be/a0_-I65EdMM
Top marks to Sparta for a stonking album and making sure that the New Wave of British Heavy Metal has plenty to offer.
A feature which made No Retreat No Surrender that bit more enjoyable in my opinion is the basic “earthy” production. It does not detract from the enjoyment, but it does make things feel properly authentic as if it was recorded back in 1981.
If you would like a copy for yourself (recommended), you can purchase directly from the band via their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SpartaUk
Here’s what guitarist Tony Foster says about how to do that:
“Our latest album “No Retreat No Surrender” is now available to buy! All prices include shipping.
United Kingdom £11.00
Europe £12.50
Rest of the world £13.50
Simply send us a private message with your Paypal e-mail address, tell us which country you are in and we will send you an invoice.
If you don’t have Paypal, please let us know what other form of payment you would like to use.”
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