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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As of this writing they\u2019ve landed two new videos on YouTube which will give you a sample of what to expect. The delightful nuggets of metal goodness \u2018Power Grab\u2019 and \u2018Out of Mind (Heavy Metal)\u2019 are fantastic bits of crushing whimsy. Chris Impellitteri\u2019s guitar playing is simply amazing, yes he blows through notes like ice in a high powered blender. However isn\u2019t that what we expect? It\u2019s what I expect and I wasn\u2019t disappointed one bit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019t there and Graham Bonnet provided vocals, Chris consistently delivered stellar guitar driven metal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 \u2018Power Grab\u2019 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\u2019t 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 \u2018Superkingdom\u2019 with it\u2019s warning of Artificial Intelligence takeover. \u2018Just Another Day\u2019 with it\u2019s observation of societal decay. \u2018Beware the Hunter\u2019 brings an amazing melodic hook that really catches you off a bit, the tempo changes compared to the verses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One thing this album delivers is dynamics! I\u2019m not speaking about \u2018mellow\u2019 parts, a song like \u2018What Lies Beneath\u2019 has simply crushing riffage then it breaks into a melodic bridge with losing any of the steam it\u2019s created. This occurs throughout this album, and not without effect. Whether it\u2019s the melodic break and tempo change during the solo of \u2018Wrathchild\u2019 or the bridge during \u2018Superkingdom\u2019 dynamics used to a memorable effect. Each song stands on it\u2019s own and doesn\u2019t have the same plodding tempo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 \u2018The Voice of Melodic METAL\u2019 is not self serving but a statement of fact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This time through drummer Paul Bostaph was recruited to provide the pounding back statement which drives the machine along throughout. Paul\u2019s resume is long and well regarded, with stints in Slayer, Testament, and Exodus. However for me I\u2019ll always treasure seeing Forbidden Evil before they were signed, Paul\u2019s brother Pete kept telling me \u2018DUDE! You gotta come see them!\u2019 and saw them in Mountain View, Ca. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s hard to imagine hearing anyone else playing alongside Chris in Impellitteri. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019ve heard many (some notable musicians) complain about \u2018shredders\u2019, well I will say without the SONGS shredders disappear into a black hole of \u2018WHO?\u2019 This album has songs, and melodies that really dig deep into your music consciousness. There aren\u2019t bouts of experimentation here, it really seems that Chris and company crafted tracks that exceed expectations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Something to make mention of is that I don\u2019t have a lyric sheet with the promo material provided. That is neither here or there to me, Rob wrote the lyrics so I\u2019m 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 \u2018clear evangelical\u2019 message. All I can say to those detractors is get a grip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s best releases, it delivers the goods. And those goods are crushingly good! Essential!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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