Artist: Arthemis
Title: Heroes
Type: Album
Label: Helvete & Hate

Promising to hit us like an 'exhilarating high-powered metal avenger', Arthemis pretty much deliver on this - admittedly limited - remit. Eschewing completely any of the developments within the metal genre over the last two decades, 'Heroes' is the very dictionary definition of pure, balls-to-the-wall Heavy Metal. The protagonists would have you believe this is 'true' metal, full stop - no pretensions, no funny business, no messing about. And you know what? There's always a place for that. One part Megadeth, one part Nevermore and with more than a dash of the ever-present 'Painkiller'-era Judas Priest sound, Arthemis have actually managed to deliver a charismatic, catchy brace of headbanging tunes on this, their sixth full-length album.

Crucially, for all of the 'more metal than thou' posturing, the four-piece have not forgotten that the song is all important. They have clearly spent time to ensure that they have written a brace of distinctive tunes here. Not only that but there is a real heaviness to this record that highlights the anaemic nature of many of their more effete contemporaries. Arthemis dive headlong into battle with opener 'Scars on Scars', a fat-free and lean thrash-tinged number that sets the bar for much of what is to come. OK, so 'Home' doffs the cap to latter-day Megadeth a little TOO closely for comfort but is undeniably well written while the singalong chorus of '7days' is endearingly entertaining with it's 'downtrodden metaller' rallying cry. Even the title track is infectious once one manages to look past the blatant pandering to festival crowds waving lighters in the air to the national anthem styled chorus.

Graced with sterling musical performances - the fretboard pyromania of guitarist Andrea Martongelli being a particular standout - 'Heroes' is a competent blast of classic metal with modern stylings. Drenched in an unwavering commitment to the metal cause and delivered with a relentless sense of dedication to the essence of the genre, this should strike a chord with anyone who has ever owned a sleeveless denim jacket and/or fistbanged to Gravedigger. And I KNOW that's a lot of you.

http://www.arthemismusic.com
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