Raw, unpretentious and pure Metal.
If you could jump into the Tardis and travel back in time, where would you go? Woodstock in 1969 perhaps to witness the most legendary festival of them all or maybe take a trip to the Hotel Diplomat back in 1974 and check out Kiss in their formative years? Edinburgh band Vantage Point have set their time machine for 1979 and headed straight into the realms of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM).
Debut album ‘Tomb Of The Eagles’ is steeped in the traditions of the NWOBHM with the Paul Di`Anno fronted Iron Maiden and early Judas Priest being obvious reference points with a hint of long lost but much loved Swedish band Heavy Load thrown in for good measure. Lead singer and bassist Murray Graham possesses a set of pipes that could shatter glass at a hundred paces while guitarists Liam Kane and James Mitchell provide the riffs.
Although lacking the polish of some of the European Power Metal bands such as Primal Fear and Helloween, the lo-fi recording does add to that authentic NWOBHM vibe and in essence does capture the power and passion of a raw and hungry band that has yet to have their enthusiasm dampened by a cynical music industry. Although there is still some work to be done on arrangements and production, ‘Tomb of the Eagles’ isn`t a bad start and points to some promise in the future. ‘Stressed Out’ an ode to harassed workers everywhere and with its killer chorus, scything riff and screaming solo from Kane is a highlight along with the savage riffage of ‘Shetlamb Driller Killer’.
If raw, unpretentious, pure Metal free from the influence of three decades of Goth, Emo, Glam and any other sub-genre you can shake a stick at then Vantage Point may well be right down your street!
Mick Burgess
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