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Die By My Sword

    
       
       
       
     
             
War Dogs are a heavy metal band from Spain formed in 2015 releasing their debut E.P. 'War Dogs' in 2018. 'Die By My Sword' is the bands first full length album, and was released in 2020.    
             
Featuring ten songs over forty five minutes, the Spanish heavy metallers deliver an astonishing aural assault of ferocious heavy metal. From start to finish the album is a frenetic cacophony of fast paced and pummelling "foot on the monitor" anthems. The title song 'Die By My Sword' launches the awesome attack in a furore of fire and brimstone. Thundering along at a high pace 'Die By My Sword' is "foot on the monitor" styled heavy metal to get the blood pumping, pulse racing and adrenalin flowing... And is only an appetiser for what is to follow - the much more traditional styled 'Castle Of Pain'. Paying homage to the early eighties evolution of the NWOBHM, War Dogs recreate the sound pioneered by the likes of Saxon. Samson and Raven. Lightning pace takes over the album as 'Wings Of Fire' explodes into life like a million incendiary devices all going off at the same time. 'Wings Of Fire' fairly bolts on at break neck speed, banging heads fucking hard.    
             
'Master Of Revenge' returns the album to the glorious sound of traditional heavy metal, with buzzing guitars and a sing a long chorus. Add a huge dollop of the melodic and 'Master Of Revenge' is one of the albums best "old school" offerings. Firing up the turbo engine, 'Kill The Past' is terrifyingly quick, and steps over the boundaries into the speed and power metal genres. A fiery rampage, 'Kill The Past' is head bangingly addictive and one hundred percent infectious. Stepping totally into the speed metal genre, 'Ready To Strike' is ferocious, and a searing stampede of all out force. Guitars scream as 'Ready To Strike' hurtles on past at high velocity.    
             
Providing additional vocals on 'The Shark' is Manilla Road front man Bryan "Hellroadie" Patrick. A veteran singer, Bryan adds an extra dimension to the bands sound - 'The Shark' very much an "old school" gallop. Chugging relentlessly 'The Shark' is the most NWOBHM sounding song on offer, and has the glorious chorus line "he gave heavy metal to the world, wisdom contained by the witches brew" - a witches brew defined as "a potent magical concoction"...(coincidentally) a cracking description of this debut album. 'The Lights Are On (But Nobody's Home)' adopts a heavier, more sinister feel, as it rumbles on at a mid tempo pace, resembling the sound of early NWOBHM metallers Angel Witch. And there's that blistering pace once more - 'Gorgon Eyes' scorching the Earth as it steams on by. The high velocity and even higher energy that War Dogs inject into their songs is immense, this album turning in a performance worthy of a place in the shortlist for Album Of The Year. Bringing the album to a close is the up tempo and galloping 'Wrath Of Theseus' ending the album as it began - in a blaze of fire and brimstone and "foot on the monitor" styled heavy metal.    
             
Overall, a glorious gallop of traditional heavy metal, infused with elements from the speed metal genre, to produce an early contender for Album Of The Year.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Fighter Records    
             
             
Other Reviews    
             

           
           
Only The Stars Are Left      
           
"pace, power and head bang ability collide with a huge bang to produce an array of old school metal that's sure to please everyone" Read Review      
     
     
     
           
             
             
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