Band : Barn Burner
Album Title : Bangers
Label : Metal Blade Records
Distributor : Rough Trade Benelux
Release Date : 26/02/2010
Review : CD

This debut by the Canadian bangers of Barn Burner is a fine album to fire up a good old genre debate; it’s basically traditional hard rock/heavy metal with a pinch of stoner rock in them, although some would definitely disagree. It's a mixture of Budgie, Maiden and a dash of Fu Manchu, especially with the singing.

Bangers is all about quality and dirty ass delivery, songs are straight from the barn burner, no slow progressive stuff, just pure ‘pedal to the metal’ power deliveries. The twin guitar assault of Kevin Keegan and Marc Doucette herald influences from Maiden to Priest and to Lizzy.  Bangers features fierce  riffs en masse, the melody lines are enjoyable as well and the arrangements are at least decent. Although the album lacks any real standout killer track the likes of “Runnin’ reds”, “Holy smokes” and “Brohemoth” perfectly executes slabs of prime time stoner metal that provide a mighty kick.

Perhaps not the best metal release on the ever expanding Metal Blade catalogue but nonetheless an enjoyable romp that augers well for the future.

85/100

Cosmicmasseur.