Speed Metal

Helstar – The Devil’s Masquerade Review

By Steel Druhm on September 9, 2025 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, 53 comments

“When folks look back on the magic and glory of 80s metal, Helstar tend to get overlooked. The little Texas band that could, Helstar dropped a series of influential albums from 1984 to 1989 that were important to the US power metal and prog-power genres. Their Burning Star debut was charmingly rough and raw, and so metal it hurt, giving birth to classic cuts like “Witch’s Eye” and the timeless “Run With the Pack.” 1986s Remnants of War saw the band fully embrace the USPM sound for a righteous platter of bold, badass battle tunes that sound as mighty today as they did when released. 1988s Distant Thunder and especially 1989s Nosferatu helped lay the groundwork for many future prog-power acts, most notably, Nevermore.” Unkillable thrills.

Lucille – Dawn of Destruction Review

By Tyme on June 22, 2025 in Reviews, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 41 comments

“Formed in 2017, Lucille spent a considerable amount of time gigging the underground circuit while writing and refining their message, which would form the basis of their 2021 EP, Too Proud to Beg for Mercy, which caught the attention of Dying Victims Productions. Upon solidifying themselves as a quartet, with a love for 80’s thrash and Negan’s barbed wire-wrapped baseball bat in their hearts, Lucille set out to put together the pieces for their debut album, Dawn of Destruction.” you picked a fine time….

Helms Deep – Chasing the Dragon Review

By ClarkKent on June 20, 2025 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Power Metal, Speed Metal, 38 comments

“Helms Deep made quite a splash with their debut, Treacherous Way, thanks to their high-energy ode to speed metal acts of the ’70s and ’80s. Now they’re back with a little extra firepower in the form of guitarist Ray DeTone and a more progressive-minded drummer in Hal Aponte (Ice Age). The remaining two players make their return, including bassist John Gallagher, who AMG writers have attempted to lure back into the comments section since his infamous critique of Huck N Roll’s review of Raven’s Metal City. Finally, there’s Helms Deep founder and frontman, Alex Sciortino, whose impressive vocals help propel this project to the next level. On Chasing the Dragon, Sciortino promises a new focus while still maintaining their modern take on old-school thrash and traditional heavy metal.” Metal strongholds and ancient draGONS.

Morbyda – Under the Spell Review

By El Cuervo on June 16, 2025 in Reviews, Speed Metal, 23 comments

“I always enjoy reviewing and exposing bands on their debut. A debut offers a cornucopia of possibilities: will it be innovative? Exciting? Shit? Picking up an album deep into a discography often results in something that’s like what came before, but with a debut, there’s an element of the unknown. Under the Spell by Germany’s Morbyda is one such example, with just one demo and live release under their belt previously. Promising a NWoBHM-inflected release of blackened speed metal, there are few things more heartening than a young band making heavy metal. Do I remain heartened after spending hours with Morbyda?” Are you Morbyda?

Hellcrash – Inferno Crematörio Review

By Kenstrosity on May 24, 2025 in Reviews, Black Metal, Speed Metal, 40 comments

“Imagine Venom at their speediest and sloppiest. Electrify that base with the devilish wiles of Bütcher and fortify its boiling blood with the ripping guitar work of Razor and Bulldozer, and char it with a smoky production. As a final touch, sprinkle a decidedly punk-driven attitude that whispers unsweet nothings into every aspect of this material, from performance to riffcraft to production. That’s Inferno Crematörio.” Speed rash.

Phantom – Tyrants of Wrath Review

By Tyme on May 13, 2025 in Reviews, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 24 comments

“Vampires and castles and axes, oh my! In addition to a love for the video game Castlevania, these are some of the favorite things for Guadalajara, Mexico’s Phantom, reflected in the cool Meagan Lemay cover art. I had a fair amount of fun with Phantom’s 2023 debut album, Handed to Execution. It’s a tasty little slab of thrashy speed metal that took me back to the halcyon days of Kill ‘Em All Metallica and Show No Mercy Slayer. When I saw Phantom’s follow-up, Tyrants of Wrath, floating around in the sump pit, I waded into Castle de AMG’s mucky moat, battling tentacled meanies and dodging Grier’s skid mark-ruined speedos to retrieve it.” Sticky nostalgia.

Caballero – Caballero Review

By El Cuervo on March 11, 2025 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, 25 comments

“Album concepts can be tricky territory. Especially those based on historical events where accuracy is a pre-requisite. Especially debut albums, where a band is also figuring out their sound. And especially those produced by guys from Finland about the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. The self-titled Caballero by Caballero is just such an album, representing an enthusiast’s exploration of warfare, death, and cult heavy metal bands from the 80s. Is it a match made in the thirteen heavens or in the Nine Hells?” Of empires sacked and bagged.

Hirax – Faster than Death Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on March 5, 2025 in Reviews, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 23 comments

“When Hirax’s newest record dropped, I thought, ‘These guys are still around?’ That’s not me being a dick. They haven’t released a new album since 2014. I suppose that’s on par with the band considering they’ve been on and off since 1984—this year’s Faster than Death only being their sixth full-length release. With vocalist Katon W. de Pena being the only remaining original member of the band, it appears that once a record is complete, that lineup leaves, and the wait begins for a new one to pen another release.” Kult acts, speed, and death.

Axetasy – Withering Tides Review

By Holdeneye on January 15, 2025 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Speed Metal, 43 comments

“Distributed by the suspiciously named Big Pharma firm Dying Victims Productions, Axetasy hails from Germany, and the drug’s mechanism of action works by flooding the victim’s patient’s brain with copious amounts of molten guitar leads in order to induce a state of therapeutic euphoria. If you choose to try the embedded pharmaceutical sample labeled “Beyond All Order” (after consulting your physician, of course), you’ll see that Axetasy’s debut recipe, Withering Tides, draws inspiration from a host of tried-and-true formulas from years past. Take all of the health benefits of speed metal, arena rock, early power metal, proto-thrash metal, and NWoBHM drug classes and add them together, and you’ll find that they can all be replicated by listening to this one easy-to-swallow pill.” Better living through essential metals.

Blackevil – Praise the Communion Fire for the Unhallowed Sacrament Review

By Felagund on November 15, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, Speed Metal, 25 comments

“I’ve long been a fan of blackened speed metal, with some of my favorite releases over the past few years falling into this most ferocious of subgenres. Bavaria’s own Blackevil scratched that specific itch with their sophomore effort Forever Baptised in Eternal Fire back in 2020. Thankfully, the mighty Holdeneye’s flowery prose perfectly captured my feelings about that record, and I’ve spent many an hour since then spinning that blasphemous little bundle of joy.” And now it falls to Tolkien’s wayward Mary Sue to assess whether Blackevil has delivered yet again.