Air Raid – Across The Line

Album number three for Swedish heavy metal juggernaut Air Raid marks the third new singer to appear on an album. It seems this band just can’t catch a break at finding a frontman. The group’s new vocalist has an old-school heavy metal voice that would be right in line with someone like Rob Rock or Jeff Scott Soto. Those two names are not a coincidence, as both sang on the early Axel Rudi Pell material, and though I strongly doubt that is the sound Air Raid aimed to capture, “Across The Line” is a perfect album for anyone who worships the first three ARP albums. The primary difference is that Air Raid tends to have more songs that lean towards the speed metal side of things, but both their upbeat songs and more mellow moments strongly remind of records like “Nasty Reputation” and “Eternal Prisoner”. For those unfamiliar with the albums, they are simply fun heavy metal records.

And this is all Air Raid strives to be: fun heavy metal. Their approach is centered around the guitars, whether from intricate solos, or hard-hitting, charging riffs. Most songs are fast in nature, though they don’t aim to hit warp speeds. The instrumental, “Entering The Zone Zero”, shows the band’s commitment to shredding, as there is some seriously virtuosic playing on this track. Even other songs like “Aiming For The Sky” and “Cold As Ice” show an abundance harmonized guitar work. There isn't a lot of originality on "Across The Line", but it's not really required. The band rocks hard, and there isn't a single moment that feels phoned-in or weak. Every single riff on this album is potent.  

The sole flaw of “Across The Line” is the exact same problem that has plagued the band since the beginning. Their execution can’t be faulted at all, but somehow the music ends up feeling somewhat lifeless compared to the band’s peers. Make no mistake, everything Air Raid does, they do well. Yet somehow, they lack the insanely memorable songs, the catchy choruses, or even the “every note is awesome” guitar solos. The most comparable band is Screamer. Both are from Sweden, play heavy metal, and are signed to High Roller Records, but Air Raid just can’t stand up against their countrymen. This absolutely is not a bad record, but it still feels like the band could refine their songwriting a bit. The ARP-isms of this record are intriguing, but truthfully, his music is similar to Air Raid’s in that it is very good, but not top-tier heavy metal. Still, if you like heavy metal, "Across The Line" will do well in your collection!

Be sure to check out and like Air Raid on Facebook!

Highlights

"Hold The Flame"

"Line of Danger"

"Cold As Ice"

Final Rating

3.8/5 or 76%. 

Written by Scott

Screamer – Hell Machine

Much has changed for Swedish heavy metal juggernaut Screamer in the 4 years since their last album. Vocalist/bassist Christoffer Svensson left the band a few years ago, and was replaced by two members. His vocals were definitely an integral part of the band’s identity, but not completely irreplaceable. This brings us to 2017’s “Hell Machine”, an album that picks up exactly where “Phoenix” left off. This succinct release features 8 hard-rocking heavy metal anthems. Though the singer may be different the core elements of the band’s sound remain intact. They still worship the typical heavy metal legends that most traditional bands borrow from, and Screamer also continues to use those unique melodies that always made their songs stand out from the crowd. One of the most refreshing things about Screamer is that their two guitarists, while very talented, rarely unleash an all-out shredfest. Instead, they opt for more melodic and memorable licks in their solos, creating emotional and impactful moments.

Screamer has always shined in the songwriting department and “Hell Machine” is no different. “On My Way” is easily one of the best songs the band has ever written, due largely to the fact that its chorus is the ultimate sing-along anthem. The other single, “Monte Carlo Nights”, is another highlight, but even deeper cuts like “Lady of the Night” and “Denim and Leather” have plenty of replay value. Sometimes the lyrics feel a little cliché or overused (“Warrior” and the aforementioned “Denim and Leather” in particular suffer from this), but this is not a style of music that is thriving because of originality. And when it comes down to it, Screamer’s musical traits are unique enough to make them distinct from their peers.

Naturally, this brings us back to the new singer. Like Svensson before him, he definitely has an unmistakable voice. In other words, you’ll know you are listening to Screamer the second you hear him. Though he gives an admirable performance, the shoes he had to fill were just too big. Sometimes he displays unlimited potential, such as in the bridge of “Monte Carlo Nights”, where he screams his lungs out, but even these fiery moments don't dispel the fact that he can’t live up to Svensson. Now, this doesn’t mean he is bad at all. In fact, if this album were to be your first impression of Screamer, you wouldn’t have a single complaint. As a long-time fan, however, it is difficult to get past this. And this is truly no different from any other band; the singer is often the face of the band, and with very few exceptions, fans almost always side with one singer over the other. 

In the end, “Hell Machine” is about playing fun heavy metal. The slight hard rock elements that the band had alluded to on their previous records are gone completely, and the result is a pure heavy metal package recalling bands like Saxon, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest. Twin guitar harmonies are used to maximum effect, and on practically every song (“Lady of the Night” having the most potent example). Screamer has no shortage of riffs, and they manage to make them interesting despite not reinventing the wheel. Their constant ability to write compelling tunes is ultimately what makes “Hell Machine” an essential purchase!

Be sure to check out and like Screamer on Facebook!

Highlights

"On My Way"

"Lady of the Night"

"Warrior"

"Monte Carlo Nights"

Final Rating

4.5/5 or 90%. 

Written by Scott