FRENZY FIRE

    

METAL & ROCK REVIEWS

    
             
HOME            
REVIEWS            
ARTISTS            
UPCOMING            
LINKS            
             

 

     
   
   
       
       

The Rise And Demise

    
Of The Motorsteeple    
       
       
     
             
Battlesnake are a heavy metal band from Australia releasing the bands self titled debut album in 2023, and sophomore album 'The Rise And Demise Of The Motorsteeple' in 2024...    
             
...featuring eight songs in a little over thirty minutes! With influences as diverse as Judas Priest, Green Lung, and Led Zeppelin, the Sydney seven-piece - Nick Zammit (drums), Sam Frank (vocals), Ben Frank (guitar), Paul Mason (guitar), Daniel Willington (guitar), Billy O'Key (keytar), and Elliot Hitchcock (bass) - offer variety in abundance! Opening with the one minute crescendo building instrumental 'A Blessing Of Fire And Speed', Battlesnake set an inviting atmosphere that immediately pulls you under the bands spell, 'Motorsteeple' (presumably the title song) thundering into view with all the raw energy and oomph of traditional metal blended with a layer of Southern and stoner rock and metal! The gruff, rough and tough vocals run parallel to 'Motorsteeple's abrasive sound, Battlesnake making one helluva head turning start to their second album!    
             
The energy and power levels remain sky high as 'Pangea Breaker' enters the fray to pound the ground hard, shaking buildings and wobbling walls as the band continues the albums opening and immensely infectious swagger! Battlesnake didn't waste any time in releasing their second album, emerging just a year after the bands debut - the momentum gained from 'Battlesnake' still rolling! And rolling with major purpose and intent, 'Alpha & Omega' hitting hard with a massive anthemic feel - and just a little hymn-like aura too! The dramatic shift in tempo and tone from the albums opening double may shock a few listeners, but the variation is incredible, Battlesnake not afraid to go their own way and stretch musical horizons as far as possible - 'Road Warrior' hitting hard and fast! And aggressive too - the band roaring louder than ever, planting both feet firmly on the heavy metal monitor! The worldwide mosh pits are gonna wake up to this one, as are thrashers too, 'Road Warrior' displaying a thrash metal mentality as every metalhead everywhere vigorously rocks their head back and forth.    
             
Not wanting to be pigeon-holed into just the one genre of metal, Battlesnake continue to deliver a myriad of metal styles, 'The Key Of Solomon' oozing the iconic guitar tone from the legendary NWOBHM evolution. Yet the band also impose their brand of heavy, very heavy metal onto 'The Key Of Solomon', the ginormous bombastic nature setting off every volcano around the fucking world! And the change of pace towards the end is phenomenal - the ferocity rising high in the air! What an unexpected yet breathless moment - 'The Rise And Demise Of The Motorsteeple' storming on with the punk-edged 'I Speak Tongues'. And a chugging rhythm that's so mouth watering it's gonna hit the sweet spot hard - very hard, causing a high number of listeners to drool and dribble profusely! And not just from their mouths either! The band bring the album to a close with the galloping 'Pterodactyl Firehawk', Battlesnake maintaining their incredible array of metal styles right up to the very last second. It's a bit of a shame there's only thirty minutes to enjoy here, but as I've told regular readers many times before, the replay button was invented for a reason! So press it and listen again - and then you'll have had an hour to enjoy!    
             
Overall, a varied romp of different metal styles, 'The Rise And Demise Of The Motorsteeple' is an engaging and highly infectious listen.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
Review is also featured at Metal-Roos    
             
             
Top