Screamer are one of my favourite traditional heavy metal
bands from Sweden simply because they sound so authentic. Earlier in the year,
I reviewed their debut album, “Adrenaline Distractions”, after seeing the band
live. The band has returned in early 2013 with their new record, “Phoenix”. Screamer’s
second album definitely has a very similar sound to the first album, but it
drops a bit of the rock sound the band used to have. Instead, this is an album
that is definitively metal throughout. That is no more evident than on the
high-speed tracks like “Demon Rider” and “Phoenix”. With that said, there are
still some awesome rockers, but no riff on this album sounds out of place for a metal record.
Once again, the band uses all of the hallmarks of heavy
metal in their sound. Shredding dual lead guitars are plentiful and the vocals
of Christoffer Svensson are the perfect compliment. At times, he is more
reserved (such as on “No Sleep ‘Til Hamilton”), but he also gives plenty of
energetic screams on the faster songs. In many ways, his vocals are like a
tamer and more controlled version of the singing in Canadian band Striker. This is a good thing because the band isn't always going full speed as well. The
highlights of this album (like any great traditional heavy metal album) are the
tracks that are most memorable and have the best hooks. The aforementioned “No
Sleep ‘Til Hamilton” features some catchy gang vocals in the chorus alongside
Svensson’s great storytelling. This song sounds like it was inspired by
their Canadian tour with Alcoholator, but the lyrics are definitely a genuine
account of the hardships of touring. Another standout is the closer, “Lady of
the River”. The track starts out a little slow, but it builds to an astounding
guitar solo. The best comparison would be to Metallica’s “Fade to Black”
because it is one of those guitar solos that has a perfect sense of phrasing
and conveys a ton of emotion. This is truly a fitting end to a great record.
The other tracks are all up to par for the band, but when Screamer gets it
right, they really hit it out of the park.
Ultimately, “Phoenix” is the logical continuation of
“Adrenaline Distractions”. It’s a bit heavier, but the songwriting isn’t quite
as consistent. There are no weak tracks, only songs that are much better than
others. All four musicians are still killing it, and once again, the highlight
is the vocals of Svensson. If you are a fan of any newer traditional heavy
metal and you don’t listen to Screamer, now is the time to start!
Be sure to check out and like Screamer on Facebook!
Highlights
"No Sleep 'Til Hamilton"
"Mr. Noman"
"Lady of the River"
Final Rating
4.5/5 or 90%.
Written by Scott