FRENZY FIRE

    

METAL & ROCK REVIEWS

    
             
HOME            
REVIEWS            
ARTISTS            
UPCOMING            
LINKS            
             

 

     
   
   
       
       

Darkest Before Dawn

    
       
       
       
     
             
POWERHOUSE are a power metal band from the USA formed in 2016, releasing to date two E.P.'s - 'Adrenaline' (2017), 'Weight Of The World' (2022), and one album (the bands debut full length) 'Darkest Before Dawn' released in 2024...    
             
...featuring a line-up consisting of (founding) member Niko Valdez (guitars, vocals), Nik Gonzales (bass) and Toni Puente (drums). The bands first long player features nine songs - seven new ones and both, from the bands 2022 E.P. - showcasing the bands incredible thrash infused power come speed metal fury! The Texan based three piece are on fucking fire, racing through all nine songs on offer in forty two fast paced minutes, pleasing fans of everything from thrash and power metal to traditional heavy metal - so prepare yourselves for a loud, proud and emphatically explosive experience, as POWERHOUSE set 'Darkest Before Dawn' on its way with the one minute instrumental 'Time Is Now'.    
             
And for the band, their time is now - 'Time Is Now' a crescendo building tension fuelled intro leading to album opener proper 'Come And Get It'. And this is where the sound of traditional heavy metal lights up the sky with a brightness brighter than a thousand suns - and a heaviness that'd fuel a thrash metal band for eternity! POWERHOUSE may identify as a power metal band, but in my opinion they're a heavy, power come thrash metal band - the guitar riffage during 'Come And Get It' sharing more than just a passing resemblance to the iconic NWOBHM sound. And talking of NWOBHM - the classic galloping style of heavy metal synonymous with the game changing evolution during the eighties, takes front and centre as 'Envy' powers in, the infectious level rising right off the fucking scale! Not to mention the level of head bang ability too, every single metalhead around the world furiously rocking their head back and forth.    
             
The pace, power and purpose of the (albums) first two songs has been immensely emphatic, the band storming on at pace with the thundering 'There Is No Tomorrow' - POWERHOUSE actually increasing the speed! 'There Is No Tomorrow' is gonna set every mosh pit on fire, walls and circles of death forming everywhere - metallers and thrashers uniting as one to head bang hard as if their fucking life depends on it! A scorching opening threesome to raise the bar high over anything the band have released previously, the American three piece are an unforgiving heavy metal whirlwind, raging on with the fire and brimstone fuelled 'The Patriot'. Shuddering the ground with an incredible amount of force, 'The Patriot' batters listeners with a savage barrage of full on and mildly aggressive heavy metal - 'Darkest Before Dawn' a roaring rough, tough and gruff album to blow a big fucking hole right through the centre of the Earth! And with the intensity level higher than at any other time heard so far, 'Whirlwind' phenomenally, increases the speed of the album once more - the momentum gained song by song simply getting faster, higher and stronger! 'Whirlwind' is also an instrumental, fast, frantic and head bang-able to the max.    
             
And with a mellowness not heard previously, the seven minutes plus 'Never Forget' glides in on an elegant crest of majesty, striding very close to ballad territory! But POWERHOUSE have other ideas, changing gear, tempo and thrust to stomp loudly, bringing the mighty anthemic style of metal to the fore along with the iconic, old school gallop! 'Never Forget' has so many identities across its entire length, it's gonna attract fans from a myriad of metal genres to the bands music - music which is both emphatic and bludgeoning! Title song 'Darkest Before Dawn' maintains the albums incredible intensity and head bang ability, showering listeners, fans and followers with a sparkling mix of thrash, traditional and power metal - my three favourite genres of metal all wrapped up in one album! And by just one band too, POWERHOUSE. The album is brought to a close with the rough, tough and brash 'Rage Brain' combining blistering pace with a barrage of savagery to send the worlds mosh pits into fucking overdrive!    
             
Overall, a barnstorming fire and brimstone array of heavy metal, POWERHOUSE deliver immense intensity and a sky high level of head bang ability.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for POWERHOUSE    
             
             
Other Reviews    
             

           
           
Adrenaline E.P.      
           
"a hard hitting slice of power metal blended with thrash metal that will please and excite the senses, invoking frenetic head banging everywhere" Read Review      
     
     
     
           
             
             

           
           
Weight Of The World E.P.      
           
"a thunderous double that oozes intensity and head bang ability, 'Weight Of The World' E.P. is a highly infectious listen" Read Review      
     
     
     
           
             
             
Top