Following the interview with Sparta’s Tony Foster in the previous post (thanks again Tony) I’ve got my hands on a copy of the band’s latest CD entitled Welcome to Hell. Now this is proper, proper New Wave of British Heavy Metal which even sounds (deliberately so I believe) as it would have had it been cut back in the day. Barnstorming stuff to satisfy us old NWOBHM fans from back then and the modern metal fan also. Crunching big riffs, blazing fast guitar work, thumping drum and bass, powerful vocals and songs full of all of that and chant/shout along choruses. Just like it should be.
The title track starts us of. Frantic riff, everything else comes in then “Spartans, what is your profession?” booms out. And we’re off. A fine mix of riffola and frenetic guitar work. You WILL shout along to it. And Angel of Death, Soldier of Fortune etc. Really top stuff.
These boys still have it for sure. But it’s not all speed and power. They can vary the pace too to show their range with Kingdom of the Sky being a bit of an epic with the acoustic intro before the storm arrives. A bit Beyond the Realms of Death (Judas Priest in case you’ve forgotten). And the tongue in cheek closer of Death to Disco and it’s fist-thumping appeal.
This fine CD is even more evidence that NWOBHM is still with us and bands like Sparta show us that it is still as relevant today as it was thirty five years ago. The enthusiasm, the musicianship and everything else.
It didn’t take off for Sparta then. Perhaps it might now and Welcome to Hell can’t do anything but help with that. Listening to Welcome to Hell again and again makes this reviewer think it’d be a treat to see live.
If you like (or for any other oldies reading this, remember) your Angel Witch, Diamond Head, Tytan, Witchfynde and similar then Welcome to Hell will be your bag too. A fine return from the band. Recommended listening.
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