Spectre emerged from the Canadian metal scene in 2023. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, they played their first live shows in the same year. Hitting the ground running, their huge potential was recognised at the 2023 Manitoba Loud Music Awards, where they were awarded Upcoming Band of the Year.

The band’s live reputation has grown since this time and they have already shared the stage with the likes of Striker, Three Inches of Blood, Trivium and Drowning Pool. They are also set to provide support for Unto Others during a forthcoming show in their home city of Winnipeg.

SPECTRE

Released in July this year, Armageddon is Spectre’s debut EP. The band’s current line-up is as follows:

Jay Driedger (bass guitar)
Phil Campbell (drums)
James McNaughton (guitars)
Doug Douglas (guitars)
Adam Matheos (vocals)

REVIEW

Adam Matheos’s high-pitched scream ushers in pedal-to-the-metal opener, “The Alchemist”. Punchy and crunchy riffing, resplendent soloing and a driving rhythm section propel this one along at a rapid pace. Matheos’s vocals have just the right blend of excess and control and this track does not outstay its welcome.

On “Brick by Brick” a throbbing bass line (that almost recalls Van Halen’s “Running with the Devil”) provides the foundation for pulsating riffing that had me tapping my feet and banging my head from the outset. The grittier more restrained vocals from Matheos during the verses are then juxtaposed with a hyperbolic falsetto in the chorus. The tone shifts around the three-minute mark where we get a scorching solo and then a darker, spoken word section that sets the scene for the song’s dramatic climax.

Like the EP’s opener, “The Return” is christened by Matheos’s high-pitched scream before hitting its stride. A tension between the band’s pseudo punk rock energy and presentation of typical power metal fantasy themes is apparent in this track.

Closer “Meat and Turmoil” is the heaviest track on the record. The pace intensifies and the riffing verges on Bay area thrash. There’s a slightly unhinged, hyperbolic dimension to Spectre that is exemplified in this track. While not quite at Riot City levels, Adam Matheos’s turbo-charged vocals coupled with the band’s willingness to delve into thrash metal territory make this song (and the band overall) an interesting proposition.

CONCLUSION

The joyous way that Spectre go about their business on this EP is infectious. For a debut record the production is to be applauded as it captures the essence of the band. Spectre’s enthusiasm for their craft is evident throughout and the main criticism of this record is that it is only an EP. I wanted more. This is a band that have a lot to give to the NWOTHM scene and are definitely one to watch.

The NWOTHM score: 9/10

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