IMPELLITTERI: War Machine
2024 continues to be an amazing year of Hard Rock/Heavy Metal releases with another devastating release. Impellitteri has returned after a six year hiatus since The Nature of the Beast which dropped in 2018. Their latest release entitled War Machine is their third for Frontiers music.
As of this writing they’ve landed two new videos on YouTube which will give you a sample of what to expect. The delightful nuggets of metal goodness ‘Power Grab’ and ‘Out of Mind (Heavy Metal)’ are fantastic bits of crushing whimsy. Chris Impellitteri’s guitar playing is simply amazing, yes he blows through notes like ice in a high powered blender. However isn’t that what we expect? It’s what I expect and I wasn’t disappointed one bit.
Ever since Rick Hunter and I picked up the original 4 song EP at a record shop in San Francisco back in 1987 I was hooked. Memorable melodies from Rob Rock (and I mean MEMORABLE!!) along with that unbelievable guitar playing! These two have kept me coming back for more. Even when there were times that Rob wasn’t there and Graham Bonnet provided vocals, Chris consistently delivered stellar guitar driven metal.
War Machine is a cavalcade of highly melodic, hard riff driven heavy metal. At times moving like a sidewinder missile hitting the target and blowing it apart. Tracks like ‘Power Grab’ and the title track deliver knock blows which really make statements musically and lyrically. Musically, as I consistently wonder why some bigger named acts haven’t take these guys out on the road? The question here is rhetorical, no one wants to get shown up on stage, headliners are afraid. There I said it.
Other times it strikes like an Abrams tank, more mid tempo with powerful crushing well timed tracks that demand an immediate re-listen. Songs like ‘Superkingdom’ with it’s warning of Artificial Intelligence takeover. ‘Just Another Day’ with it’s observation of societal decay. ‘Beware the Hunter’ brings an amazing melodic hook that really catches you off a bit, the tempo changes compared to the verses.
One thing this album delivers is dynamics! I’m not speaking about ‘mellow’ parts, a song like ‘What Lies Beneath’ has simply crushing riffage then it breaks into a melodic bridge with losing any of the steam it’s created. This occurs throughout this album, and not without effect. Whether it’s the melodic break and tempo change during the solo of ‘Wrathchild’ or the bridge during ‘Superkingdom’ dynamics used to a memorable effect. Each song stands on it’s own and doesn’t have the same plodding tempo.
Chris shows again he can not only craft jaw dropping solos (how does anyone play like that!!) but he can construct memorable riffs and melody lines. Arpeggios galore and simply fantastic arrangements which hold the listeners attention. War Machine is a tour de force of guitar arrangements.
Rob Rock brings one of this finest vocal performances to date here, and my friends that is saying something. Criminally underrated and frankly overlooked in my opinion, the tagline ‘The Voice of Melodic METAL’ is not self serving but a statement of fact.
This time through drummer Paul Bostaph was recruited to provide the pounding back statement which drives the machine along throughout. Paul’s resume is long and well regarded, with stints in Slayer, Testament, and Exodus. However for me I’ll always treasure seeing Forbidden Evil before they were signed, Paul’s brother Pete kept telling me ‘DUDE! You gotta come see them!’ and saw them in Mountain View, Ca.
Back for another go is bass player James Pulli. James has been one of the few seemingly permanent fixtures in Impellitteri having been in the band since 1992. A graduate of Musicians Institute in 1985 it’s hard to imagine hearing anyone else playing alongside Chris in Impellitteri.
World class musicianship all within tracks that are 3-4 minutes along. The songs are the important items here, not 43 minutes of noodling without end. I’ve heard many (some notable musicians) complain about ‘shredders’, well I will say without the SONGS shredders disappear into a black hole of ‘WHO?’ This album has songs, and melodies that really dig deep into your music consciousness. There aren’t bouts of experimentation here, it really seems that Chris and company crafted tracks that exceed expectations.
Something to make mention of is that I don’t have a lyric sheet with the promo material provided. That is neither here or there to me, Rob wrote the lyrics so I’m familiar with the worldview he brings. As a fan of heavy metal music the music itself is what pulls me to a particular release. However I can see some will complain about the lack of a ‘clear evangelical’ message. All I can say to those detractors is get a grip.
War Machine delivers a listening experience which has many layers to it. A powerful memorable album that will rank in the top 10 lists of many. Enjoy one of Impellitteri’s best releases, it delivers the goods. And those goods are crushingly good! Essential!
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