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Prey

    
       
       
       
     
             
On My Command are a heavy metal band from Australia formed in 2016 by guitarist and vocalist Sean Mackay, releasing their debut album 'Apparitions' in 2018. The bands sophomore album 'Prey' was released in 2021...    
             
...delivering a pummelling blend of traditional, and power metal, unleashing eight swashbuckling songs over a furious forty minutes. The new album gets going with the fast paced and fairly furious 'The Warlord' - a thrashy power metal rampage. The scorching pace is matched by the songs heaviness, and the furious forty minutes are well and truly underway. 'Sword Of The King' maintains the thrashy opening, powering along at high velocity, banging heads violently as it swings on by. The opening double salvo has been immediate, turning heads everywhere, making even the casual of listeners look up and take notice. Without letting up in pace, power or oomph, On My Command plunder forth with 'Shadowbeast'. Maintaining the albums overall drive and desire, 'Shadowbeast' is an unrelenting roller coaster of manic metal. And when I say manic, I mean that in the most complimentary manner.    
             
The one minute 'Al-Kimiya' is an atmospheric and highly taut build up to 'The Magus', a more heavy metal song than the thrashier ones that have gone before. An atmospheric anthemic feel rises high to the surface as 'The Magus' marches on, wreaking havoc by stamping on anything and everything that stands in its way. Belligerent and aggressive is the only way to describe the attitude of 'The Magus'. Oh the sweet sound of heavy come power metal makes its emphatic entrance with 'Return To The Stars', a sound that is so attractive and infectious that every listener will stop what they're doing to raise their fists high and punch the air in salute to an absolute cracker of a tune. And that chorus - the sing a long ability off the fucking charts!    
             
The title song 'Prey' is a hustler and a bustler, the rampaging rhythm a thundering cacophony of heavy metal. And that guitar sound is oh so sweet, with sweet spots all around the world getting that warm fuzzy feeling. On My Command are delivering the kinda metal that is attractive to a number of differing genres - namely power, thrash, and traditional heavy metal. The melodic mid tempo charging style of heavy metal associated with British stalwarts Judas Priest makes its influence felt during 'The Fight Of Our Lives', which is the most "heavy metal" of all the songs on offer. And when I say that, I mean 'The Fight Of Our Lives' is embedded in just the one genre of metal, and not spread across two or three like every other song. The album is brought to a close with the galloping 'Archangel' - full of bright light and marauding intent. The melodious streak contained within, is the strongest the album has to offer, with the sing a long style chorus a joy to behold. 'Prey' (the album) has provided surprise after surprise, and is a must have addition to the metal collections of every thrash, power, and heavy metal fan.    
             
Overall, a terrific slice of thrashy, power come heavy metal that is both infectious and melodic and comes highly recommended.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal-Roos    
             
             
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