We all know the history, we all know Ross used to play in Manowar, chronologically considered to be their best period, but Ross The Boss (the band) are an entity on their own. Since 2008’s ‘New Metal Leader’ album, the band have toured with Sinner and gave a triumphant show at this years Bloodstock Open Air festival, as well as making some much talked about live appearances at various other locations.
So, two albums in, what’s new? Not really anything, the band still produces what is considered to be real heavy metal and they are all accomplished musicians in their own right. Hence, straight into battle you go with opener ‘Kingdom Arise’. This is a galloping piece of work if ever I heard it, RTB and vocalist Patrick Fuchs bring a touch of magic, it does sound like early Manowar, I guess you cannot shake that influence, but it brings an instant smile to yours truly when I spin it for the first time. Speaking of influences, ‘Burn Alive’ starts out with a melody not that dissimilar to Twisted Sister’s ‘Shoot ‘Em Down’, but then establishes itself as a true metal sing along. Pleasing rhythms and a heavy Judas Priest influence too, hot rockin’! ‘Dead Man’s Curve’ is simple, but effective, the guitar fills in between vocal lines are timeless, proving once again, the simplest things are often the best in a world obsessed with over production. Someone once said quite a few years ago that he would rather hear a simple A-chord that blows your balls off than a million notes per minute, or something like that, RTB bring a bit of everything to the table, but there is a tendency on some of the tracks to deliberately try to emulate a former band. ‘Empire’s Anthem’ and ‘Hailstorm’ are really going for this, but the former, what a cool way to spend over 6 minutes of your time! Chugging guitars, thundering bass and a slow to mid tempo drum beat making the whole thing tick and that’s not forgetting some of the epic vocal lines, it reminds me of the ‘Hail to England’ album.
Quite simply, RTB have produced an album that Manowar fans have been wanting for years, no bullshit, no studio trickery, simple but effective use of guitars, bass, drums and vocals. No doubt the Manowar fans will still give this album a hard time, you only have to look on a certain metal news website or any forum to see the many closed minds, but you need to sit back and take stock of what is on offer here. Let the true “metal leader” take a step forward, this band are ready and willing to conquer the earth and spreading such a strong message of metal is what it is all about. This is a cracking album pure and simple!
http://www.ross-the-boss.com/
http://www.myspace.com/newmetalleader
http://www.afm-records.de
