Contentious or lazy pigeon-holing in the music press is a hazard many acts have to endure at some point in their careers. However, there are also a number of bands who happily avoid these types of perceived misrepresentations with ease. No need for the usual stock responses of “we’re not really that type of band” or “we’re so much more than that” here. The Three Tremors are Heavy. Fucking. Metal. Pure and simple.
Disregarding the three disc separate vocal re-release of their 2019 debut, Guardians of the Void (Steel Cartel) is the band’s second proper full length studio release and again, rather unsurprisingly, it does exactly what it says on the tin. Right from the off, opener ‘Bone Breaker’ is choc full of punchy Judas Priest style riffs, pounding drums and screaming. Lots and lots of screaming.
The fiery title track continues in the same vein, featuring a guitar solo reminiscent of a young Kirk Hammett. ‘Kryptonian Steel’ Starts deceptively slowly before ramping up the speed, overlapping vocals and more screams, while the likes of ‘Crucifier’, ‘Catastrophe’ and ‘Wickedness and Sin’ are all dramatic mid-paced bruisers. The rapid fire ‘I Can’t Be Stopped’ dazzles with its pneumatic drumming while the strength of ‘Frailty’ lies in its moody atmosphere.
Written about the killing of Osama Bin Laden by Navy SEALs in 2011, ‘Operation: Neptune Spear’ is a jet-fuelled engine of jingoistic aggression which could easily be the sequel to Iced Earth‘s ‘When The Eagle Cries’ as the USA finally takes its revenge for 9/11. Somewhere out there you just know a grinning Jon Schaffer is saying “fuck yeah” through a haze of insurrectionist rhetoric and bear mace. ‘Chained to the Oar’ and ‘Fall of Rome’ thunder and roar while the victory march of World War II themed ‘War of Nations’ closes the album with another blitzkrieg of riffs.
Although the choice between the three singers is purely subjective, the balance between Tim “Ripper” Owens (Judas Priest, Iced Earth), Jag Panzer‘s Harry “The Tyrant” Conklin, and Sean “The Hell Destroyer” Peck of Death Dealer is kept just about right throughout the record even if things do occasionally sound a little cluttered. Still, details like that matter not as backed by the remaining members of Peck’s other band, Cage, Guardians of the Void is simply another rip-roaring volley of molten metal aimed directly into your face.
Buy the album here: https://www.thethreetremors.com
7 / 10
GARY ALCOCK