Maddeningly Powerful Warrior!

DYING VICTIMS is proud to present a new 7” EP from HEAVY SENTENCE titled Warriors of Madness.

It’s been nearly three years from their celebrated Bang to Rights debut album, but HEAVY SENTENCE are back with DYING VICTIMS for a quick-hitting and heavily satisfying 7” titled Warriors of Madness. Featuring three brand-new & exclusive tracks, Warriors of Madness maintains all the charm of that first full-length – deceptively energetic mid-tempo HEAVY METAL roughened up by the spectre of punk, much like those early days of the NWOBHM – but switches gears slightly by “slicking up” that street-level throb with a production style that’s thick and clean and yet somehow dirtier than the already exquisitely dirty Bang to Rights. As expected, either way, HEAVY SENTENCE keep proceedings as anthemic as ever, with the first two tracks storming & strutting like early ‘80s Motörhead. But the price of admission is more than worth it for the B-side, “Give Yourself to the Night”: a moody “epic” at five minutes, it stalks like a midnight vampire, beckoning and commanding in equal measure. Join these Warriors of Madness post-haste!

Line-up:
Ed Troup – Bass
Bryan Suddaby – Drums
Jack MacMichael – Guitars
Tim Orrocks – Guitars
G. Howells – Vocals

From Manchester, UK

Release date:
January 19th 2024

REVIEW

I fell in love with HEAVY SENTENCE when they released their debut full-length “Bang to Rights” in 2021, despite not being fully into the more gruff sounding NWOTHM artists back then. In the time that has passed, my love for the genre has grown to encompass everything under the NWOTHM umbrella, with HEAVY SENTENCE being one band that stands out. It was a treat, to say the least, to hear that they have an upcoming 7″ EP releasing soon.

The band’s logo is uncomplicated yet striking, boasting sharp and jagged edges that accurately showcase the intense metal experience. In addition, I absolutely love their consistent style of album artwork. It has a raw and gritty quality that captures the essence of underground metal.

We begin our 3-track soiree with the title track “Warriors of Madness”. The killer lick had a certain rawness to it, evoking a bluesy feeling that struck me in the core. Howells’ trademark shrieks were a delightful treat, just as they always were. This track felt more restricted than their previous efforts, and I don’t mean that in a negative way at all. It’s a more restrained approach to speed metal than what they’ve done before. Around the 2:15 mark, the tempo underwent a dynamic shift, paving the way for a jaw-dropping solo. In the last stretch of the track, more melodic leads creep out that really helps to set this track apart from the rest of HEAVY SENTENCE’s discography.

Our 2nd track was “You’ll Never Take Us Alive”, the lead single from the EP. Right from the start, this one exuded a rebellious and punky energy. The song was an unrelenting, high-energy thrasher that refused to let up, but HEAVY SENTENCE skillfully weaved in moments of melody throughout the track. Initially, they might come across as a straightforward speed/thrash band, but they possess a depth in their songwriting and instrumentation that sets them apart. The ending crescendo, featuring the return of the marching footsteps from the beginning, was a brilliant and impactful addition.

Finally, we come to the EP’s longest track, “Give Yourself to the Night”, which spans just over 5 minutes. The guitarwork early on has a distinct MAIDEN vibe, and there’s a wail that channels the spirit of VENOM. “HEAVY SENTENCE” is like a monstrous offspring of IRON MAIDEN and VENOM, with a hint of MOTORHEAD’s influence seeping in from when said offspring devoured its parasitic twin. Metal af. Not just because I’m a MAIDEN superfan, but I truly fell in love with the leads on this track, their riffs electrifying my senses. The anchor of the main riff was like a magnet, drawing you in with its irresistible allure.

CONCLUSION

Short and sweet, just like that! This is the type of record that I could easily see being a big tape-trader (For you youngsters, that’s when you trade cassettes with people at conventions). I was so intrigued by this quick listen that I had to revisit “Bang to Rights” to make sure I didn’t overlook any… bangers. While the vocals and occasional harshness and franticness of the energy won’t appeal to everyone, I found it exhilarating.

TheNWOTHM Score: 8/10

Pre-Order Here: Heavy Sentence- Warriors of Madness 7″

HEAVY SENTENCE
Bandcamp: https://heavysentence.bandcamp.com/
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