ELEGANT WEAPONS – Evolution

If Richie Faulkner wasn’t busy enough with Judas Priest, he has Elegant Weapons to keep him on his toes. Elegant Weapons is a side project he put together a few years ago and they released their debut studio album, Horns for a Halo, in 2023. The first album features a star-studded lineup that consists of Faulkner on guitars, Ronnie Romero on lead vocals, Rex Brown on bass guitar, and Scott Travis on drums. The lineup for the second album, Evolution, is a little bit different with Dave Rimmer on bass guitar and Christopher Williams on drums. The current lineup already toured together previously promoting Horns for a Halo. The recording process was lowkey all over the place with Williams and Faulkner recording their parts in Nashville separately, Romero recording his parts through Zoom in Europe, and Rimmer recording his parts in France. Produced by Andy Sneap, Evolution will be released on April 24, 2026 through Exciter Records.

Here for the Long Game

Evolution kicks off with the shortest song on the album, “Evil Eyes,” at 3 minutes and 33 seconds. It’s concise and straightforward, Williams’ drum fills are insane, and the guitar riffage is excellent. “Generation Me” has a stomping groove with some doom metal elements in there, and the lyrics align with the social media age where people are stuck in their own universe, completely oblivious to the outside world. “Bridges Burn” is the lead single for Evolution and honestly, it would’ve made a better album opener because it’s melodic and catchy, and perfectly showcases the band’s chemistry together. “Come Back to Me” is a beautiful ballad with gorgeous instrumentation, especially with Faulkner’s bluesy guitar work, and the higher key change towards the end of the song was a nice touch. It might take listeners by surprise because it doesn’t have a headbanging feel, but it’s a well-written song. At least Elegant Weapons aren’t a one-trick pony!

“Thrown to the Wolves” is an absolute beast of a song with explosive guitar work and a great groove. Romero delivers a killer vocal performance with lots of attitude and swagger. “Rupture” is an emotionally-driven instrumental that was loosely inspired by Faulkner’s open heart surgery in 2021. The victim is tied up to the hospital machines and fighting for their life. Faulkner channels his painful experience into that song and delivers a tremendous guitar performance. Evolution closes with another beautiful ballad called, “Keeper of the Keys.” It was inspired by the internet trolls who tell others they’re not good enough. Musicians, actors, influencers, and YouTubers can certainly relate to this topic as they are constantly in the public eye and judged online whether they like it or not. Though he’s well known for playing Gibson Flying V guitars, Faulkner plays a Fender Stratocaster on “Keeper of the Keys” to capture the blues element it needed.

Final Assessment

Overall, Evolution is an excellent follow-up to Horns for a Halo. In fact, it further cements the strength and possible longevity of Elegant Weapons. They play old-school heavy metal with a modern twist, which probably sounds cliché, but it’s a formula that works because of the reliance on nostalgia and current music trends. “Current” is loosely used in this case because rock isn’t dominating the Billboard charts nowadays. A minor complaint would be the inclusion of synthesizers, particularly on “The Devil Calls.” The ‘80s synth riff does not sit well on the ears; it resembles smashing one’s head against a Pac-Man machine. Judas Priest flirted with synth waves on “Panic Attack” on Invincible Shield (2024) and that was enough! Some combinations are not meant to last. With that little critique out of the way, for those who are interested in balls-to-the-wall and guitar frantic heavy metal, give Elegant Weapons’ Evolution a chance!

Album Tracklist

1. Evil Eyes
2. Generation Me
3. Bridges Burn
4. Holy Roller
5. Come Back to Me
6. The Devil Calls
7. Thrown to the Wolves
8. Shooting Shadows
9. Rupture
10. Mercy of the Fallen
11. Keeper of the Keys

Band Lineup

Richie Faulkner – guitars
Ronnie Romero – lead vocals
Dave Rimmer – bass guitar
Christopher Williams – drums

Guest Musicians

Jared James Nichols – guitars on “Thrown to the Wolves”
Adam Wakeman – keyboards on “Keeper of the Keys” and Hammond organ on “Come Back to Me”

Check out the lyric video for “Bridges Burn” from Elegant Weapons’ Evolution!