Louder--Devil's Night (CD) {2026 Fighter Records}

Louder, from Colombia, come armed to the teeth with classic speed metal riffs and gruff Motorhead-like shouted vocals. Black thrash fans should pay attention to this one, as it's a decent entry into the canon of the genre, even if it does have a few issues, as we'll see later in the review. They do get the "song title that makes me laugh every time I see it" award for the song "Satan's Bitch." It's even funnier when they get to the chorus of the song and repeat the song title as part of it. This is not overly technical or polished - this is dirty, fast, rock and roll heavy metal and makes no apologies for what it is, and in that respect I like it. My only problem with the album is that it gets a bit repetitive after a while and the songs begin to run together quite a bit, over time becoming much the same. A little more variation in the riffs would help immensely. That said, I'll be interested to see what the band does next, because there's quite a bit of potential here for something awesome.

www.fighter-records.com

Ravenspell--Obsidian King (CD/LP) {2026 Fighter Records}

Ravenspell from Canada play decent heavy metal that borders on speed metal quite a bit of the time on their first full length. This band is at its best when playing fast, and they're much more interesting when they do so. Blastbeats even make an appearance at the end of the very first song "God the Chosen," and in a couple more places as accents on the record. The vocalist keeps his voice lower in tone, but it capable of higher-pitched screams. He can carry a melody, although I do wish his singing had a little bit more grit to it like his screams do, but he does fine in the style he's chosen. His melodies tend to be a little sing-songy at times, but it's not intolerable. It's almost like he's a thrash singer forcing himself to be a heavy metal singer. We do get a few guitar solos on the record, and when they do appear they're good, like in the track "Warriors 9 to 5." The recording itself is impeccable and very natural sounding, not over-digitized. Overall, this isn't a bad effort, but it has some flaws, and it's going to come down to taste whether you like it or not.

www.fighter-records.com

Crimson Storm--Livin' on the Bad Side (CD/LP) {2025 Fighter Records}

Crimson Storm play top notch speed metal on this, their first, full length, but the band has existed in some form since 2014, which gives them a seasoned sound. Their singer is very, very good, and sounds at times remarkably like Bruce Dickinson. I've seen this band compared to Riot or Running Wild, and while I can definitely see where those comparisons come from, this band doesn't sound completely like either one. They have their own personality and feel. The vocals definitely lead the music, as they should in this style of heavy metal. The singer is a focal point, leading the band around on a leash, so to speak. The riffs are catchy as hell, and every song is quite different from one another and many of them stick in your head immediately after hearing them, which is the sign of having great hooks. I think this band is at their best when playing balls-out fast, like on the track "Speed Hammerin' Metal," blazing along like wildfire. Crimson Storm is the answer to your speed metal need.