AGAINST EVIL
“Give ‘Em Hell”
Album Review by Iron Mathew

9/10

Against Evil are a heavy metal band from India formed in 2014, releasing to date one E.P. ‘Fatal Assault’ (2015), and three full length albums – ‘All Hail The King’ (2018), ‘End Of The Line’ (2021), and ‘Give ‘Em Hell’ (2024).

Seemingly emerging every three years with new material, the Indian metal machine Against Evil are back with more unabashed, unadulterated and fist pumping heavy metal – the bands new album featuring nine heavy hitters across a heavier hitting thirty two minutes! The band launch ‘Give ‘Em Hell’ with the forty five second instrumental ‘Lock ‘N Load’ – a fitting and highly anticipative forty five seconds that segues into album opener proper, the title song ‘Give ‘Em Hell’. Fast paced and fairly furious, ‘Give ‘Em Hell’ (the song) is traditional heavy metal all the way from the glorious eighties, Against Evil perfectly recreating a forty year old sound to please every listener, fan and follower! Not to mention the metal traditionalists who adore this style of metal – just like me! I grew up as a teenager during the eighties heyday for heavy metal evolution listening to pioneering bands such as Angel Witch, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Raven and Saxon shape the sound and direction of traditional heavy metal – and let me tell you, the Indian four-piece have got that eighties sound spot on with this one! And with an incredible increase in pace and power, Against Evil storm ahead at full speed with the blistering ‘Full Speed Ahead’, every head banger around the world frantically rocking their head back and forth – the band firmly pressing the pedal to the metal!

What a barnstorming opening double salvo, Against Evil raising the bar from their previous album to a whole new level – ‘Warriors’ maintaining the (albums) heavy hitting start. Albeit at a more mid tempo foot stomping pace than either of the two opening songs, the level of intensity reaching new and unimaginable heights! Sometimes you just want an album to blow away the cobwebs and leave you breathless, and on the evidence of just the first three songs, ‘Give ‘Em Hell’ (the album) is shaping up to be one of those albums! And as quick as scorching pace disappeared, it quickly returns in the mighty shape of ‘Stay Dead!’ – Against Evil bringing a little more menace and aggression to the fore! Even the vocals take on a feisty growl, the band an unforgiving metal machine rolling forth with incredible purpose and intent – ‘Lights Out’ entering the fray featuring a mighty anthemic foot stomp! Eat your hearts out Manowar and Sabaton, there’s a new anthemic metaller in town!

Against Evil have been on a roll since the album began, getting hotter and hotter as each song roars on by, ‘Hellfire’ increasing the levels of everything to beyond maximum – the bustling nature here greater than heard earlier, the band delivering foot to the floor metal with total aplomb! I’ve turned the volume up twice since ‘Give ‘Em Hell’ (the song) came racing outta the speakers, and I may just turn it up for a third time as ‘Creature Of The Night’ comes barrelling into sight at a hundred fucking miles an hour! The band change gear and tempo throughout ‘Creature Of The Night’s three and a half minute run time, all the while maintaining the sky high intensity level – ‘Give ‘Em Hell’ (the album) coming to an end with ‘Killing Machine’. And no, not a cover of the ‘Priest classic that appears on the bands 1978 album ‘Killing Machine’ – this is an Against Evil original! An original that kicks ass, featuring the power driven style of ‘Priest mixed with short bursts of phenomenal speed! Time to press the replay button readers, ’cause thirty two minutes of this style of heavy metal is just never enough!

Overall, a full on and highly head bang-able gallop of traditional heavy metal with an immense infectious level.

TRACKLIST

Lock ‘N Load
Give ‘Em Hell
Full Speed Ahead
Warriors
Stay Dead!
Lights Out
Hellfire
Creature Of Night
Killing Machine

https://againstevil.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/againstevil.india

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