VENATOR
“Echoes From The Gutter”
Album Review by Iron Mathew

9.5/10

Venator are a heavy metal band from Austria formed in 2016, releasing their debut E.P. ‘Paradiser’ in 2020. The bands debut full length album ‘Echoes From The Gutter’ was released in 2022…

…just two years after their sizzling debut release. ‘Paradiser’ may have only been three songs long, but they were all emphatic enough to land the band on the radar of metal heads all around the world. The infectious and catchy nature of the bands sound harks back to the glorious eighties, but Venator are by no means a retro band – inputting plenty of modern day trends to keep their style of metal fresh and alive. ‘Echoes From The Gutter’ is nine songs and forty minutes of attractive heavy metal, further cementing their place as a new force to be reckoned with. Getting the album off to a blistering start, is the fast paced and thoroughly head bang-able ‘Howl At The Rain’. An old school “foot on the monitor” feel comes oozing out of the speakers, ‘Howl At The Rain’ a scorching opening salvo. ‘Seventh Seal’ maintains the albums breathless opening, forging ahead with just as much pace, the smell of traditional metal stronger than ever.

And after just two songs, Venator are reinforcing their recent emergence as a new force in heavy metal. And with third song ‘Red And Black’, the band hit the brakes, opening up with a mellow intro, before adopting a mid tempo heavy stomping rhythm. The infectious and highly melodic nature of all the songs heard so far is top notch, Venator showing progression and growth from their E.P. (released just two years ago!). With a touch of menace, ‘Nightrider’ slow burns to a crescendo, breaking out into a high velocity gallop with so much melodic input it’s phenomenal. Feet are firmly planted on the monitors for this one, as the band forges forth with high levels of energy and feel good vibes. It really feels like the band are having so much fun. And fun’s important, right! And with ‘Manic Man’, the band turn the heat up high – very high! ‘Manic Man’ is a pulsating gallop of fast paced old school style metal to raise the adrenaline levels of everyone everywhere. Simply breath taking – Venator storming on with the more mid tempo ‘Made Of Light’ – more mid tempo yes, but lacking none of the oomph and oof of everything that has gone before. All the stops are definitely being pulled out by a band on fire!

And the flames still burn brightly, as ‘Echoes From The Gutter’ roars on with the head bangingly addictive ‘The Rising’. The pace, power, and energy haven’t dropped for a single second since the album began, Venator romping on safe in the knowledge they’re delivering a cracking album that is gonna be loved by the worlds massive army of metal heads. One of the most melodic offerings on the album ‘The Hexx’ – well, most melodic for the first forty seconds anyway – because a sudden, and fairly dramatic change of pace sees ‘The Hexx’ turn into a fast and furious gallop of all out heavy metal. And in what seems like no time at all, the final song is just around the corner! A sign of a good album that is – when you lose track of time while listening. Ending the album is the border hopping bravado of ‘Streets Of Gold’ – a majestic hard rocking march that’s gonna appeal to a wide array of fans. Fans from metal to rock, but also from the, ahem, pop brigade. Yes sports fans, ‘Streets Of Gold’ is a pop rock come metal swagger that is highly reminiscent of eighties glam rock. ‘Streets Of Gold’ would not go amiss as your song of choice to blare outta your car stereo on a countryside drive in the summer. Party on dudes! What a stunning end to a very good album.

Overall, a full on and intense gallop of highly infectious heavy metal, ‘Echoes From The Gutter’ is a very good album.

TRACKLIST

Howl At The Rain
Seventh Seal
Red And Black
Nightrider
Manic Man
Made Of Light
The Rising
The Hexx
Streets Of Gold

https://venatorsteelcity.bandcamp.com/releases
https://www.facebook.com/VenatorHeavyMetal/

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