“Metal Immortal” is the second EP for
American traditional heavy metal group Lady Beast, and sounds much like you
would imagine based on the band’s name. Put simply, this release is a solid
offering of female-fronted traditional heavy metal. Iron Maiden and Judas
Priest are certainly predominant influences due to the vast number of
harmonized lead guitar sections, but the rhythm guitar work is faster and more
aggressive than either of those two bands typically offered. The closing cut “Not
This Time” is perhaps the best example of the speedier riffing, while the second
song, “Devil’s Due”, shows Lady Beast unleashing their most impressive
harmonies (and allowing plenty of room for the bass to breathe the way Steve
Harris often does).
There isn’t much about this release that is
particularly original. The female vocals are obviously less common, but not
completely unheard of. It would be fair to say Lady Beast’s singer is closer to
Leather Leone of Chastain than someone like Jill Janus of Huntress. She does
her job adequately, but doesn’t stand out. And that statement goes for all of
the performances on “Metal Immortal”. It’s a serviceable release, but doesn’t
have those great hooks that people look for in traditional heavy metal. Having
run through it a number of times, there’s little I’m left with that I haven’t found
elsewhere. And while being inventive is by no means a prerequisite for enjoying
a release, “Metal Immortal” just doesn’t make enough of an impact to beat out
the hundreds of similar releases out there. If you do give it a shot, you won’t
be let down, but it’s just unlikely to be a release you’ll come back to again
and again.
Highlights
"Metal Martyr"
"Devil's Due"
Final Rating
3.5/5 or 70%.
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