Los Angeles, California heavy metal band WILD CHARGE are releasing their new second single “Stardust Crusaders.” The single is the second advance track from the upcoming Wild Charge debut album to be self-released in summer 2024.

WILD CHARGE was started in 2011 as a school project by Chris Mcleod and Sebastian Agini while attending Musician’s Institute in Hollywood California. After graduating in 2013 and going their separate ways, Chris decided to continue the project. Recruiting long-time friend and bass player Eddie Bautista and other friends to continue the project. Chris and Eddie persevered through line-up change after line-up change for 10 years until finally meeting drummer Joey Mancaruso. With this last piece of the puzzle, they were able to finally capture the sound they had been searching for a decade. Chris has been in several bands over the years including of note Madrost of which he participated in a U.S. tour with.

Wild Charge has played countless shows across Southern California over the last decade. Some notable acts they have shared the stage with include Trauma, Helstar, Power Glove, Animals as Leaders, Loudness, Raven, and Dokken.

The new single “City Hunter” is based on an anime from the 1980s of the same name. The song is about a hitman who operates in the Shinjuku ward of Tokyo.

The upcoming album is currently untitled officially but has a working title “TM93” a special item in the “Pokemon” games that teaches the move “Wild Charge” which is also the origin of the band’s name Wild Charge.

The band takes influence from bands across several musical genres, the main ones being Iron Maiden, Thin Lizzy, Loudness, Motorhead, Rush, Judas Priest, T-square, Cacophony, Casiopea, Duran Duran, Racer X, Chicago, Megadeth, Triumph, in all honesty we find things we like in the music we love and try to incorporate that somehow into our style and make it our own, even if it isn’t obvious on the surface the influence is there.

Wild Charge is for fans of bands such as Motorhead, Iron Maiden, Running Wild, Megadeth, Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, or just heavy metal in general.

Our current Discography consists of the City Hunter single and a demo single of a song called “Samurai Steel” which is currently being re-recorded for the album.

REVIEW

“Stardust Crusader” kicks of with a pulsing bass line, 16th note hi hat pattern and tumbling fills, before plunging plunging into a punchy mid tempo stomp. The vocals of Christian Mcleod are big and hungry and and tear the mix in half! There is plenty going on here from flavoursome rhythm work and tasty little licks that are served up as a treat. The mid section with double kick and scales is flowing and airy and the solo of course sizzles like a nice hot breakfast! Damn delicious! This is a rounded and pleasant track that makes me want to hear a bit more of what the band has to offer!

“City Hunter,” the second track of this release, begins with some intriguing radio chatter. It quickly transitions into a lively and uplifting introduction featuring bold, powerful chords, setting the stage for classic heavy metal gallops that follow. But one of the first big stand out things to me is the chorus which features big woahs and the lyrics city hunter which will get the audience singing along! Personally the solo in this song is my favourite of the two tracks. It starts of smooth sailing and chilled before we get a note explosion, scaling and soaring like an uncontrollable rocket! If you want a song to lift your mood, head bang and throw a fist to then i would recommend checking out this band!

REVIEW

Wild Charge is band I am not too familiar with yet after listening to these guys for the first time I was certainly left intrigued! Their music is straight too the point heavy metal and would go down really well at a party or a festival with their vibrant guitar work and catchy choruses, ensuring fan participation! If you want something to lift your mood and brighten your day then go and check these guys out!

The Nwothm Score: 7.5/10