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Stormbringer E.P.

      
         
         
         
     
             
Crusader are a heavy metal band from the USA formed in 2010. The bands first release was the 2011 four song E.P. 'Rise Of The Templars'. Their first full length album 'Onward Into Battle' was released in 2013, with a second E.P. 'Stormbringer', released in 2020.    
             
Crusader are primarily a heavy metal band, citing influences as varied as Iron Maiden, Venom, Bolt Thrower, Possessed and Danzig, to name just a few. Their sound is old school, NWOBHM tinged, and offers up bludgeoning riffs that will lacerate you with their ferocity. The 'Strombringer' E.P. contains two songs - the band lead you to believe, but when you download it from their Bandcamp, surprise, surprise, there is an unlisted bonus song! More about that later...    
             
First of the two songs on offer, is the title song 'Stormbringer'. A heavy metal gallop, 'Stormbringer' (the song) is fast paced and thunderous, echoing traits of the iconic NWOBHM sound, and bearing the mean and moody feel that British metallers Angel Witch portrayed way back in 1980 when they set the world alight with their debut album. The second, and final song, is 'Inquisitor'. A more mid paced but no less thunderous offering, 'Inquisitor' is also more melodic, and more a head nodder than a head banger.    
             
The unlisted bonus song, is a cover of 'Witching Hour' by UK metal icons, pioneers and legends Venom, off their 1981 debut album 'Welcome To Hell'. Crusader do a fucking excellent job of replicating the pace and attitude of the original, but lack a lot of Venom's brash rawness - but forty years of invention has a lot to answer for. There are better instruments and recording facilities today than there was back then, so of course there will be a difference, and a great difference at that.    
             
Overall, a solid, but short, gallop of straightforward metal, harking back to the sound of the glorious eighties when heavy metal was still in its infancy.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
             
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