Vintage 80’s metal is on the rise again thanks to a band like Switchblade. Hailing from Haifa, Israel the band resurrects the sounds of groups like Iron Maiden and Accept to create the classic sound of catchy choruses and melodious passages. Lead singer Lior “Steinmetal” Stein even sounds eerily similar to Bruce Dickinson, often making the strong comparison between Switchblade and Iron Maiden.
Switchblade have been around since 2005, first toying with their musical direction and then through changing line-ups and playing various gigs until the band found its footing in the fledgling music scene in Israel. Now the group has put the finishing touches on their debut release called “Heavy Weapons” and are ready to take the world by storm. The band even boasts a solid line-up and with this select group of musicians managed to make it to the Wacken Metal Battle competition in Israel, giving them the confidence to move forward with their debut release.
Heavy Weapons is a solid album from start to finish and bolstered from some sweeping melodies and stellar riffing, all backed by the strength of vocalist Lior Stein. Songs like “Metalista” and “Curse of the Father, Sins of the Son” strongly resemble classic era Maiden, but the compositions are so catchy you start singing along in unison. Other songs like “Heavy Weapons” and “Endless War” is the cornerstone numbers that really strengthen the core sound of the band and help to anchor this release overall.
For fans who like Iron Maiden, Switchblade will probably grab your fancy, but I can see how some might find the music to be nothing more than a mere clone. I want to inform you this is not the case at all, and in fact Switchblade brings much energy and enthusiasm to the material. Obviously they are not reinventing the wheel here, but I do like the idea of traditional heavy metal finding new life in a band like Switchblade.
Kenneth Gallant, Editor HMS
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