Powerrage--Beast (CD/LP) {2026 High Roller Records}

Powerrage includes two members of the mighty Exciter, John Ricci and Jacques Belanger, so you can imagine the dose of Exciter-esque music found here. They play a solid mixture of heavy metal, speed metal, and thrash metal, and it's completely unique, just as Exciter was. The vocals are completely off the chain - they alternate between a gruff growl or snarl that almost creeps into black metal territory, and a high, piercing falsetto. It's totally different and I can imagine it's an acquired taste for some, as it's not a standard traditional metal type of vocal at times. The production is wonderfully old-sounding, with some reverb on the drums, and guitars that aren't burying everything else. The riffs tend to be fairly repetitive, which is quite an interesting choice for this style, and it really gives some of the songs an epic feel, as they should with the pedigree of this band. It really lets the riffs breathe, becoming something more. The guitar solos are impeccable, obviously. There's a very '80s feel to all of this, even with the extreme vocals, and it should be seen as a continuation of the legacy of Exciter, at least in my eyes.

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Speed Queen--...with a Bang! (CD/LP) {2025 High Roller Records}

Speed Queen from Belgium plays speed metal with a definite Exciter influence, as well as a lot of NWOBHM and early Motley Crue feel. It reminds me a lot of the albums Metal Blade would release in the 1980s as the speed metal scene was burgeoning. It has that same atmosphere to it. The vocals aren't incredibly melodic, they're more melodically-yelled, if that makes sense, in a flat style. They often punctuate the choruses of their songs with gang vocals, which gives this album almost a punk sound at times. In fact, the drums accentuate this punk side of the band, being a bit simpler than the average metal band. I wasn't terribly excited by the lyrical material, with stuff about women, partying, and other similar subjects. I prefer darker material. Where this band does shine, though, is the guitar work. They trade amazing dueling leads and have effective harmonies all throughout the record. Their guitarists are doing all the heavy lifting here. In all, I'd have to say this is worth picking up if you like old heavy metal, but if you're a stickler for fantastic vocalists, I'd steer clear. He gets the job done, but isn't spectacular.

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Slaughter Messiah--Exorcised to None (CD) {2024 High Roller Records}

Slaughter Messiah has returned to give us a three song EP, but with an extra three live renditions of the studio tracks included. They plan an amalgam of styles here, a mixture of black, death, and thrash metal that truly satisfies the ear. I can hear Destruction and Bathory in their sound, but I also hear Dissection, Nifelheim, and Destroyer 666. Together it's more than the sum of its parts, with well-written and memorable songs. The drums are nicely recorded and have that slightly "wet" sound I like so much, and they sound quite natural, almost live. The vocalist reminds me of a mixture of early Destruction and Bathory, and his delivery is fantastic. A quick note on the live tracks: they're a bit of an afterthought. I would rather have heard different songs than the same three songs as the studio tracks. Perhaps we could get three songs from across their discography. It would make it more interesting, overall. But, that's nitpicky. This is a worthy release, and absolutely worth adding to your collection.'

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