Out of a
handful of bands with the same moniker, this Avenger is probably the best known.
The band was part of the NWoBHM movement and although it has been playing live
since a 2005 reunion, “The Slaughter Never Stops” is the band’s first
studio-album in exactly 30 years. Was it worth the wait?
Well, to be honest I was hoping for something stronger and
fresher. Thankfully, however, the songs are well-written and have enough hooks
to appease most fans of old-school English
Metal. The vocals of Avenger’s Ian ‘Swifty’ Swift reminded
me of Paul Di’Anno – this was before the ‘Killers’ cover came out of my
speakers. Incidentally the band does an excellent job of this Iron Maiden
classic.
Other
highlights...the twin guitars of ’In Arcadia Go’ is another strong parallel of
Iron Maiden. Unsurprisingly both guitarists also play together in a Maiden
tribute band. ‘Flayer Psychosis’ has some nifty axework and ‘Shot To Hell’ is
notable for a great opening riff. The brief ‘Mace Imperial’ adequately creates
some tension before the album kicks off and is reminiscent of Star Wars’
Imperial March. All the songs seem to have been written to get an audience going
and in itself this is a good indication on what to expect from the album.
Avenger don’t
bring back the classic NWOBHM vibe as much as they behave as if it never went
away. The album won’t floor you but contains enough good moments to make it an
enjoyable experience.
Watch the
official video of Avenger covering ‘Killers’:
Line-up:
Ian ‘Swifty’ Swift
(ex-Satan, ex-Atomkraft, ex-Tysondog) – vocals
Liam Thompson
(ex-Death In Blood)
– guitars & backing vocals
Sean Jefferies
(ex-Sacred Illusion, ex-Earthrod) - guitars
Ian ‘The Fuzz’ Fulton
(Sweet Sympathy) – bass guitar & backing vocals
Gary Young
(Repulsive Vision, ex-Blitzkrieg, ex-Marauder) - drums & backing vocals
