FRENZY FIRE

    

METAL & ROCK REVIEWS

    
             
HOME            
REVIEWS            
ARTISTS            
UPCOMING            
LINKS            
             

 

     
   
   
       
       

Warhorse

    
       
       
       
     
             
Paul Di'Anno's Warhorse are a Croatian based heavy metal band formed in 2021, releasing both the bands debut E.P. 'Stop The War', and self titled debut album in 2024.    
             
Founded by Rapid Strike guitarists Hrvoje Madiraca and Ante Pupacic Pupi, and former Iron Maiden singer Paul Di'Anno (Battlezone, Killers), Warhorse aim to return the glorious sound and spirit of old school, traditional heavy metal to the fore - and with the bands E.P. (released earlier this year), Warhorse did just that! And right here, right now, armed with the bands first full length album, Warhorse continue their old school revolution with ten songs (which include two stunning covers), across thirty six highly head bang-able and infectious minutes, 'Warhorse' getting underway with the rip roaring title song 'Warhorse'. Making an impact much bigger than the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs over sixty five million years ago, 'Warhorse' (the song) thunders forth with immense pace and power. The band ooze an incredible "foot on the monitor" feel, with Di'Anno's immediately recognisable vocal snarl and grit roaring just as loud and menacing as it did when I first heard him sing over forty years ago when he fronted 'Maiden.    
             
A simply spellbinding start, Warhorse remain in top gear with the more melodious 'Get Get Ready', an anthemic rabble rousing call to arms feel commanding the airways. The highly infectious, thunderous nature here is all consuming, capturing the attentions of every listener, fan and follower, turning their heads in the direction of the metal powerhouse. And the chant style chorus is simply sensational, everyone joining in to scream and shout "Get get ready, Ready to rock, Get get ready, Ready to rock". Fucking brilliant! The opening brace has been nothing short of jaw dropping, the band maintaining a sky high level of intensity as 'Go' pounds the ground harder than either of the two previous songs, the head bang ability shooting right through the fucking roof! Can 'Warhorse' (the album) get any better? You bet your goddamn arse it can - 'Stop The War' entering the fray with a massive old school heavy metal swagger. Traditional metal has never sounded so good, the band firing on all cylinders to deliver the iconic metal gallop, the relentless guitar chug rhythmically rocking heads back and forth. What a song 'Stop The War' is, and with a very poignant lyrical theme too, Warhorse standing by anyone who is against the barbarity of war, and the current atrocities against the Ukraine. And if the world was ever gonna raise money to financially aid the Ukraine's recovery, 'Stop The War' would be the ideal anthem to drive the worldwide effort.    
             
Chiming in as one of the heaviest songs on offer, 'The Doubt Within' is a foot stomping fury of ferocious proportions, shuddering the ground and shaking buildings to their foundations! Both menace and a sharp melodic edge make for an engaging journey, Warhorse mixing modern metal touches with their root, forty-four year old sound - a forty-four year old sound that's sounding as fresh as it did when I first heard it, err, um, forty-four years ago when such albums as 'Angel Witch' (Angel Witch), 'Heaven And Hell' (Black Sabbath), 'Demolition' (Girlschool), 'British Steel' (Judas Priest), 'Wheels Of Steel' (Saxon), and of course, 'Maiden's eponymous debut (featuring Di'Anno as the bands lead singer) took my world by fucking storm, blowing my mind to smithereens and changing my musical preference for life! I am a traditional metaller at heart and fucking love this brand of heavy metal - Warhorse keeping their foot firmly on the monitor with 'Here Comes The Night'. The immense thunder stomp is incredible, the band delivering the most sing a long-able chorus heard so far - 'Warhorse' (the album) simply getting better and better the longer it runs.    
             
And now for the first of the two stunning cover songs - 'Tequila' is an instrumental surf-rock song written by American saxophonist Chuck Rio in 1958, originally recorded by the American rock and roll band The Champs. 'Tequila' has been featured in numerous films and TV programmes, been covered by a myriad of bands and artists, and now gets a "metal makeover" courtesy of Warhorse - the band turning up to maximum the levels of energy, power and intensity! A simply gorgeous cover, Warhorse even retain the originals Latin inspired flavour - returning to heavy metal territory via the hymn-like 'Forever Bound'. For all of the first minute and a half anyway, 'Forever Bound' marching into life with a massive majestic feel! Not to mention the thunder stomp, metal gallop and a highly infectious nature all coming together as one - kudos Warhorse, kudos!    
             
The second of the two cover songs is 'Precious' - a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, featured on the bands 2005 (eleventh) album 'Playing The Angel'. And again Warhorse deliver a metal makeover of immense proportions, the bands version sticking to the originals pace and run time, but understandably, oozing a much heavier feel than Depeche Mode's original ever did! And Di'Anno's vocals here too, drop all the snarling grit in favour of a more soulful delivery. Now I'm sure you're all familiar with the old saying "all good things come to an end" - and sadly so does this album! But as regular readers already know, I always say "the replay/repeat button was invented for albums just like this". But before you go ahead and press the button, there's one more song to come - 'Going Home' ending 'Warhorse' (the album) in the same way as it began. 'Going Home' is a thunder fuelled metal gallop oozing with energy and power, featuring an incredible foot on the monitor feel, and Di'Anno's iconic - or is that trademark, gritty vocal snarl!    
             
Overall, a sensational heavy metal album with a glorious old school feel 'Warhorse' is packed full of infectious head bang ability.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
Other Reviews    
             

           
           
Stop The War E.P.      
           
"a red hot scorching barrage of galloping heavy metal, highly head bang-able and incredibly infectious" Read Review      
     
     
     
           
             
             
Top