New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, Classic and Progressive Rock

Weapon: New Clear Power Review

Weapon New Clear PowerWeapon keep the recent run of excellent new offerings from New Wave of Heavy Metal era bands keeping the flag flying joining the likes of Trespass and Millennium who all remain active and relevant after some four decades since forming.

Weapon go back to 1980 formed by vocalist Danny Hynes, who still fronts the band. They appeared to have fallen right on their feet being singed by Virgin and then landing the support slot on Motorhead’s Ace Up Your Sleeve tour after Motorhead guitarist Eddie Clarke was in the audience at a Weapon gig organised by Virgin. Eddie was impressed enough to suggest Weapon got the slot – and get it they did.

A single appeared in late 1980 which was well received however plans for an album fell apart as did the band a couple of years later. Another promising NWOBHM-era band bit the dust…………….or did it…..?

A reformation in 2005 got Weapon back in action leading to the Ghosts of War album in 2019 and now in 2023 we have New Clear Power. Aptly named too as it is certainly relentlessly thunderously powerful.

Drumbeats of War sets the tone. Massively heavy riff, pounding drumming and a chunky chorus. Properly heavy indeed. Have a listen:

Take it or Leave it speeds along not allowing the pace or power to let up featuring a catchy chorus then Electric Power and In for the Kill keep up the heaviness in some style. Riffs and brutal solos aplenty everywhere. Phew!

Live for Today give the listener a bit of a breather. A nicely measured ballad-style song the first half of which is a moody piano-based episode with the keys played by the always excellent Steve Mann (Lionheart, MSG etc) before a quite emotional guitar closes it out.

Then it’s back to the heavy stuff with Remote Control, Hard Road, Diamond Lil and Shoot You Down full of cutting riffage and hard soloing.

A cover of Riding With the Angels is the final track. Sounds upbeat with Tino Troy (Praying Mantis) popping in.

The ten songs five around a forty minute running time. An album full of powerful heaviness. This, like the recent offerings from Trespass, Millennium and the Tygers of Pan Tang show the New Wave of British Heavy Metal era bands still know how to give us the good stuff. A very welcome return from Weapon.

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