CastleAxe - Castlemaster

Genre: Heavy/Speed Metal

Country: United States

Year: 2011

Label: Self-Released

Today I bring you one of the best bands from my local area. The outfit known as CastleAxe (after recently changing their name from Speitre) plays a balls-out brand of heavy/speed metal that is sure to get your head flailing and your sword-arm flexing. The twin guitar attack handled by Hölger and Grög forms the foundation of CastleAxe's sound, harkening back to the glory days of speed metal. Dual harmonies and leads abound, there is no mistaking what these guys are all about - real metal, no ifs ands or buts. Drummer Sürt and bassist Prybar provide a nice, solid base, rumbling along in a meat-and-potatoes fashion - no wonky crap going on here. Vocalist Manchester has a unique delivery, and CastleAxe would not quite be CastleAxe without his crazy, out-of-control-in-a-cool-way falsetto at the helm. The Castlemaster EP features four studio tracks and three live tracks, all with a very professional-sounding recording job. This is especially notable on the live songs, which sound absolutely fantastic, having been mixed post-performance. Plus, if you listen closely, you can hear me in the crowd. ;) I do want to make it clear that I am not just plugging these guys because they are friends of mine - I am posting this because I genuinely think it rules. Support!

For fans of Mercyful Fate, Artillery, Whiplash, and Portrait.

Castlemaster

*For some reason, Metal Archives rejected the submission for their name change and new EP, so for now you'll have to look CastleAxe up on Metal Archives as "Speitre", their former name.

White Skull - Tales from the North

Genre: Heavy/Speed/Power Metal

Country: Italy

Year: 1999

Label: Nuclear Blast

Alright, I guess I have to get this out of the way up front: White Skull boasts one of the most badass female metal vocalists this side of Crystal Viper. Not only that, but her gruff tenor is backed by some awesome riffage. They play a sort of amalgam of heavy metal, speed metal, and power metal that actually works quite well. The songs are heavy, catchy, and well exectued, and Chris Boltendahl of Grave Digger fame even makes a guest appearance on a few tracks, which totally rules. So, if you want some fun, catchy heavy metal with female vocals that are way too true to wander anywhere near operatic pop-metal wankage territory, check this out stat!

For fans of Grave Digger, Running Wild, Crystal Viper, and early Blind Guardian.

Tales from the North 

Blind Guardian - Battalions of Fear

Genre: Speed Metal

Country: Germany

Year: 1988

Label: No Remorse Records

Before they became one of the greatest power metal bands of all time, Blind Guardian were hanging out in the 80s churning out some kickass speed metal in true German fashion. Battalions of Fear was their full-length debut, and it rules. Expect lightning drums, molten steel riffs played at a thousand miles an hour, and big sing-along choruses delivered by the ever charismatic and majestic voice of Hansi Kürsch. Unfortunately, it seems that a lot of people overlook this era in the band's history, which is really a shame, because their pre-power metal days produced some of their most memorable songs. Classic.

For fans of Helloween, Running Wild, and Stormwarrior.

Battalions of Fear

Stormwarrior - Northern Rage

 

Genre: Speed Metal

Country: Germany

Year: 2004

Label: Remedy Records

Stormwarrior's Northern Rage is a rip-roaring, pedal to the metal monster of a speed metal album. These guys play fast, catchy metal and are very, very good at it. They obviously have a soft spot for early Helloween, a fact made all the more apparent by Kai Hansen's hand in the album's production and guest appearance on the song "Heroic Deathe". Basically, this is everything you'd hope for from a German speed metal band, replete with big, memorable choruses, spectacular leads, and high octane riffs played at breakneck pace. If you're a fan of the genre, you really cannot go wrong with Northern Rage.

For fans of Helloween, Running Wild, Gamma Ray, and early Blind Guardian.

Northern Rage

Artillery - By Inheritance

Genre: Speed/Thrash Metal

Country: Denmark

Year: 1990

Label: Roadrunner

Get ready for some kickass Danish thrashing speed metal! By Inheritance completely slays - blazing riffs, thundering drums, killer vocals, this album has it all. This is good old-fashioned denim-clad metal done the right way, no two ways about it. Many of the choruses here are downright infectious and demand rowdy sing-alongs, and the guitarwork will no doubt have your air guitar flying and your head flailing. Flemming Rønsdorf's voice is definitely a high point for me, and this album simply would not be what it is without him. By Inheritance is definitely an overlooked classic, so don't miss out!

For fans of Angel Dust, Grave Digger, Running Wild, and Accept.

By Inheritance

Running Wild - Black Hand Inn

Genre: Speed Metal

Country: Germany

Year: 1994

Label: Noise

Running Wild are (or "were", as was announced to my dismay in April 2009) definitely one of my favourite speed metal bands, and Black Hand Inn is probably my favourite out of their discography. In the band's long-running tradition, this album is all about fast, kickass riffs and Rock n' Rolf Kasparak's powerful, throaty vocals. Running Wild have always been a 'fun' band, but make no mistake, this album is chock-full of scorching guitar work, lightning drumming, and anthemic choruses. So listen, enjoy, and respect the fact that I managed to make it though an entire Running Wild synopsis without using the words 'scurvy', 'avast', or 'mateys'.

For fans of Grave Digger, Artillery, Angel Dust, and Accept.

Black Hand Inn