SKULL FIST – Way Of The Road

Canada’s trouble-plagued Skull Fist might name their third release The Road of Hard Knocks. Since their last album in 2014, the band perseveres through line-up changes and medical issues culminating in their vocalist’s vocal cord surgery and rehab. The band says they used the extra songwriting time to create lyrically diverse and musically ambitious tracks: “…the songs are…loosely based on something that happened…stuff that needs to be buried in the ground.”

When a band starts a track with drumming similar to Judas Priest’s “Painkiller” it better be prepared to deliver the goods. Opener “You Belong To Me” nails it with locomotive riffing, passionate lyrics and an anthemic chorus. “No More Running” downshifts the pace, but not the power. Soulful guitar solos highlight the well placed bridges between lyrical hooks. The band alternates pacing fast and slow in “I Am A Slave” and “Witch Hunt”, respectively. The opening riffs of “Witch Hunt” fires the cerebral recalling Piledriver’s 1984 song of the same name. Enjoy both at high volume. The title track and “Heart Of Rio” feature layered backing vocals elevating the lyrical delivery. The remaining songs are less compelling but mostly due to an unfair comparison with the outstanding first half of the album.

The high quality songs on Way Of The Road reflect the extra time, pain and effort. The band’s performance is equal in quality. Combining elements of Classic Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal and NWOBHM, this album should be on your short list of albums to hear this year.

TUNE INTO METALEXPRESSRADIO.COM at NOON & MIDNIGHT (EST) / 6:00 & 18:00 (CET) TO HEAR THE BEST TRACKS FROM THIS UPCOMING RELEASE!!!

TRACKLIST (Highlights: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9)

1. You Belong To Me
2. No More Running
3. I Am A Slave
4. Witch Hunt
5. Way Of The Road
6. Heart Of Rio
7. Better Late Than Never
8. Don’t Cross Me
9. Stay True

LINEUP

Zach Slaughter – Vocals, Guitar
Jonny Nesta – Guitar
Casey Guest – Bass
JJ Tartaglia – Drums