One of the occasional pleasures of writing sporadically on this blog is receiving an email asking from a young, enthusiastic band asking if I’ll check out their latest offering.
I had that pleasure again a few day ago of discovering a fine band from Rome called HI-GH who burned a copy of their recent EP for me. It’s a five track mayhem titled We Hate You (but surely they do not……).
Formed just a few years ago apparently by covering Venom and Tank songs (good lads – clearly influenced by the good old New Wave of British Heavy Metal) they’ve quickly progressed to a couple of albums and this We Hate You EP.
The NWOBHM influences are both obvious and welcome. As is a fair bit of the melodic Euro power-metal style bringing in elements similar to Helloween, Freedom Call and similar. Reminds me a bit of Paralex crossed with Judas Priest.
The riffs are crunchingly powerful. Solos frenetic. Booming drums, throbbing bass, huge vocals. Yes, it’s a little raw around the edges though the energy makes up for that.
Take the title track for example. A seven minute mini-epic. The gently picked introduction piece is obviously going to heed to the powerful stuff at some point – but when?
Then it arrives to hit you in the head with a mega-riff with the guitar work over the top of it. Excellent. The vocals come in for the main mid-section then some nice guitar work to play it out.
Listen for yourself. Here’s the video:
I found We Hate You to be a fun and enjoyable listen. I’m pleased Marco got in touch and thankful he sent the CD. Proper “old school” NWOBHM style rock in their own style.
If you liked what you heard in the video above then I’d suggest you pick up We Hate You for yourself.
Initially issued on a limited run in cassette format (who remembers cassettes then………?) it is now available from their Bandcamp page along with their albums.
Here it is:
http://hi-ghspeedmetalofficial.bandcamp.com/album/we-hate-you
More about HI-GH on their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/HI.GH.officialpage/?fref=ts
Do check them out.
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