Sunday, February 8, 2015

Evil Invaders – Pulses of Pleasure

Evil Invaders is a band I’ve had my eye on for a while. For quite a few years now, it seems like their name has popped up all over the place, so it was not too surprising to hear the band signed to Napalm Records. Though their brand of speed metal isn’t quite like that of the album they’ve named themselves after, Evil Invaders offers up a serious platter of ripping metal on their debut full-length “Pulses of Pleasure”. What comes through more than anything else on this record is the sheer attitude of the band. The title of the first song really describes the album best: “Fast, Loud ‘n’ Rude”. Every song on “Pulses of Pleasure” is pure speed metal bliss that offers up aggressive riffs, maniacal vocals, and metal should only be played at full volume.

In general, the songs on “Pulses of Pleasure” are not overly complicated. The song structures are usually standard, though the band makes plenty of room for guitar solos (almost to the point of excess at times). Every chorus will linger in your head, though you’ll undoubtedly fail to sing along as Evil Invaders’ vocalist has a voice that makes no sense. Whether you call it a high-pitched wail, cry, shriek, or just plain emotional singing, this man has a unique approach. In other words, the second he opens his mouth, you’ll know you’re listening to an Evil Invaders song.

While the vocals are the most unique aspect of this release, the best part of it is the guitar work. Sometimes the riffs are straight forward, but there are also a few riffs that will leave you in awe of the band’s technical wizardry. More importantly, however, “Pulses of Pleasure” is an ode to shred and harmonized guitars. The album features numerous moments where you can’t do anything other than smile and bang your head because of how Iron Maiden-like the leads are. It would be pointless to try to name examples of this sound because it occurs so often throughout the album, but it is worth pointing out that both the title track and “Stairway to Insanity” offer up delectable levels of shred. Even when the solos are long, the band is smart enough to switch up the rhythms underneath (for example, in “Pulses of Pleasure”, after one solo, they move to a great half-time section where the guitars end up harmonizing with each other, and then the song progresses to another solo), so as not to make everything sound similar.

Pulses of Pleasure” is a very strong album. Although I don’t think the songwriting is as memorable as that of the speed metal elite like Skull Fist or Enforcer, there’s no doubt that this band can put together a catchy tune. If nothing else, this album really gets the blood flowing, as it is an energetic affair with absolutely no signs of compromise or slowing down. This music is not for the faint of heart, especially given the absurd vocals, but is quite easy to get into for anyone who worships speed metal from the 80s.

Be sure to check out and like Evil Invaders on Facebook!

Highlights
"Fast, Loud 'n' Rude"
"Pulses of Pleasure"
"Stairway to Insanity"

Final Rating
4.1/5 or 82%. 

Written by Scott

No comments:

Post a Comment