Sometimes you need to look at the total picture to make a real call about a band. The music should bear the most analysis of course, but cover art, production, and image does play a part. So digging into the bio sheet the label provides a little Old Wild West motif running through these musicians. The promo photo of the band looking the heavy metal outlaw part with bandanas, boots, and hats has an endearing charm.
The third album from Mexico’s Split Heaven, “The Devil’s Bandit” is a 10 track affair with a strong European power/ traditional framework- the band love elements of Grave Digger as much as Primal Fear/ Judas Priest in songs such as “False Martyr” and heads down, double bass “Runaway”. Guitarists Pedro Zelbohr and Armand Ramos fire off some tasty lead breaks and dual harmonies, check out “Sinner” and mid-tempo anthem “March of the Dead” for work worthy of study.
Where many will struggle to full get onboard the Split Heaven express will be with new vocalist Gian Carlo Farjat. Have you ever known someone who attempts to hit the high notes of singers they may admire, without the proper ear to hear that things aren’t quite in sync? Well, Gian certainly loves Bruce Dickinson and other ‘air raid’ high pitch singers, but he struggles to ascend to those levels- and in the case of “Diamond Gaze” with its opening acappella notes you may shudder at his accented awkwardness.
“The Devil’s Bandit” is a 44 minute record that should be fine for those into traditional metal that is streamlined, catchy, and with the right amount of hooks and harmonies to keep you moving along happily. Once they can get their singer more in his natural element vocally, I can foresee a decent cult following for Split Heaven.
Matt Coe, HMS
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