Real British Metal is back, it has been for a few years now, whether it be a nostalgia trip, a younger generation appreciating it or the industry realising they should never have cast it aside in the first place. In any case, it is more than welcome by myself. ‘Untamed’ are from Peterborough in the East of England, from recent memory, this appears to be a hotbed of a town in terms of great British metal bands. Twin lead guitars and real vocals are in full force. Having been born out of a NWOBHM covers band, ‘Untamed’ now on album number two, unleash this one on an unsuspecting public.
‘Blood Soldiers’ comes across as something of a baton being pounded repeatedly into your skull, it sounds fresh and renewed, even with the ‘retro’ sound recreated. The mid section is a particular slice of classic NWOBHM mania. Whilst ‘Broken Silence’ displays some ‘Dirty Deeds’-isms, classy vocal sound from singer Jon Sampson, the twin guitar attack of Colin James an Darren Macer compliments each other and the rhythm section ambles away backing things up as a cool full package. However, the single riffs sound very hollow with a lot of treble, yet when all the band play and curiously the solos, it is boosted to the max. This change in the mix is the only downside to this album, sometimes its perfect, but other times it becomes disjointed. Having said that, it is an overall accomplished recording.
The title track of the album starts off with all the atmospherics associated with some ‘Iron Maiden’ tracks. Bouncy, crushing riffs lay waste to the listener, and on this one the bass is loud and in your face! The mid section in ‘Dorian Grey’ (possibly inspired by the Oscar Wilde published novel “The Picture of Dorian Grey”) is total ‘Maiden-First album’ worship; I have a smile gleaming from ear to ear and my head nodding instantly. Damn this is good, and the solo tops this section off perfectly. Closing ballad ‘A Million Miles’ is quite a haunting tune; the melody fits this feeling just right and is a perfect ending for the album.
My only question would be is where the hell have these guys been hiding? We also need some live shows on offer to back up this wondrous British metal album. I am a fan with first album and t-shirt already purchased. Anyone with a love for all things metal - riff-driven guitars, real singers and general all round hell raising would do well to check this album and this band out.
www.untamedrock.co.uk
www.myspace.com/untamedband
www.transcendmediagroup.com
