Hunger--Ruler of the Wolves (CD/CS) {2025 Jawbreaker Records}

This Spanish band gives us five original songs plus a Stormwitch cover ("Beware the Demons") on this EP. They're very much in the vein of early Running Wild, which is absolutely wonderful to hear, since Running Wild themselves no longer sound like that. True metal feeling bleeds from these songs, and you can tell the band are fans of the music they're making. They write about evil and the devil, which are always preferred topics for metal! The singer's voice is usually gruff, like the vocals on old Running Wild, but he can carry a melody and does so with great proficiency. He understands his voice, and I can tell. The productions even hearkens back to '80s values with a natural drum sound and what I believe to be mic'ed cabinets for the guitars. Plus, the cover is amazing with a bigass werewolf with burning red eyes facing off with a warrior wielding a sword. I highly recommend this one if you are at all a fan of traditional metal

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Templar--Conquering Swords (CD/LP/CS) {2026 Jawbreaker Records}

This is Swedish heavy metal with a definite NWOBHM feel. They remind me, though, a little bit, of the cult band Overlorde from the US, and perhaps a little of Omen as well. The production is quite warm and analog-sounding, with a rich feel, and it perfectly accentuates the strengths of the band. The vocals aren't virtuosic by any means, but the singer is quite capable of carrying a melody, and he does it all in a fairly deep tone that only occasionally climbs into higher registers. The riffs are infectious and the guitar harmonies and solos are all perfect. This is fairly epic heavy metal with big melodies and soaring harmonies and it worms its way into your brain quite easily. Lyrically, I hear fantasy and mythology, with references to Tolkien, King Arthur, and possibly Norse mythology as well. This is quite the record, and one that true fans of real heavy metal will enjoy thoroughly.

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