Gypsyhawk
Revelry & Resilience Metal Blade Records
Gypsyhawk's second album and Metal Blade debut is full of good time old school metal, and will appeal to everyone who loves back to basics good time no bullshit rock. Gypsyhawk comprise a sound that will have you dancing on the tables drinking copiously and generally having damn good time, with a bow to Deep Purple and Thin Lizzy you have an album full off good time boogying, no nonsense rock.
Opening with 'Overloaded', a catchy foot tapping head bopping tune that get you dancing in the aisles as singer/bassist Eric Harris (Skeleton Witch) delivers some meaty vocals. 'Fields' continues the great time, with a proper old school metal groove, some pretty damn wicked guitar playing and a real swagger. This leads nicely into 'Hedgeking', a foot stamping, bashing tune, where riffs abound and guaranteeing a feeling of being uplifted, as these Californian rockers rip through this number...
'Frostwyrm' reminds me of classic Eighties metal and is a tune to remind you of those hazy days of poodle perms and rock n' roll debauchery. 'Galaxy Rise' has a dueling twin guitar assault by Andrew Packer and Erik Kuibler and is one of my favorite tracks on here. With '1345' you can taste and feel the influences from Thin Lizzy, this is a nostalgic number with a modern feel and as with the previous track and 'Hedgeking', they make this album a must have.
'Night Sounds From The Desert' slows the pace down a bit a great respite to catch your breath, to just sit back and enjoy this bluesy seventies inspired song. Check out the guitar solos as the song comes near its end. Fantastic! 'Silver Queen' abounds with a retro feel. Close your eyes and you really could be listening to a Thin Lizzy album.
Final track 'Rock and Roll Hoochi e Koochie' is a great fun song, and I would imagine it would be a great finish to a gig. It's a rock and roll number as the title suggests and it is there to not be taken seriously, to just enjoy!
So Gypsyhawk from Pasadena, a band made up of former members of thrashers Skeleton Witch, the mighty White Wizzard and stoners Suns Beneath, have come up with (not a unique sound by any means) but a damn good rocking sound and if you love your old school metal this is for you, and would be a good education to new metal heads alike.
Review by: Seb Di Gatto
Tracklisting:
1. Overloaded
2. The Field
3. Hedgeking
4. Frostwyrm
5. Galaxy Rise
6. 1345
7. Night Songs From The Desert
8. The Red Wedding
9. Silver Queen
10. State Lines
11. Rock And Roll Hoochi Koochie