Mortuary Drape – Wisdom – Vibration – Repent (Peaceville)

When looking at Mortuary Drape’s latest EP, the thing that immediately draws one’s attention is the cover of Mercyful Fate’s ‘Nightmare Be Thy Name.’ In addition to being the only cover to show up on one of Drape’s proper studio releases, it’s a deep cut from one of Fate’s more overlooked efforts. Thankfully it’s ultimately a solid rendition; the obligatory King Diamond falsetto emulations make it an inherent outlier, but the added grit and ominous guitar acrobatics ensure it isn’t out of step with the EP’s original tracks.

Beyond that, Wisdom – Vibration – Repent is right in line with the Black Metal sound that fans would come to expect from Mortuary Drape. The style skirts between the First Wave and Hellenic variants with raw but coherent production, deep raspy grunts, melodic guitar, pumping bass, and frequent off-the-wall tempo changes reinforced by an appropriately occult atmosphere. With this EP being the band’s first studio outing since 2014’s Spiritual Independence, it’s a simple but effective burst of energy that should prepare listeners for whatever they’ve got brewing next.

7 / 10

Greyhawk – Call Of The Hawk (Fighter Records)

Greyhawk’s latest EP, Call Of The Hawk offers more of the same classic Metal fun that defined 2020’s Keepers Of The Flame. The five songs are executed at a consistently optimistic pace defined by the mix of confident baritone vocals and neoclassical shred guitar that feels like the  Dio / Yngwie collaboration that never could’ve been. The bombastic salvos and commanding sweeps on ‘Demon Star’ and the epically mid-tempo ‘Take The Throne’ in particular wouldn’t have been too out of place on an album like Marching Out (Polydor) back in the day.

The other songs included round things out quite nicely. The opening ‘Steelbound’ is tailor made for a motivational montage with its straightforward bass heavy chug and especially uplifting chorus while the title track and ‘Shattered Heart’ explore faster rhythms and choppy gallops. This is the sort of EP that’s very well contained, providing a sampler for curious listeners but substantial enough to not feel like filler. A strong reinforcement of Greyhawk’s status as the most engaging voices in the NWOTHM movement.

9 / 10

Solicitor – All Debts On Death (Gates of Hell)

Another EP from a NWOTHM band in Seattle riding on the success of a strong 2020 full-length, Solicitor offers two slabs of their scorching Speed Metal sound on All Debts On Death. The band leans in on the sinister aura that was merely hinted at Spectral Devastation as ‘Killer For Hire’ opens with an atmospheric synth-heavy build before descending into harmonic madness while ‘Megalomaniac’ ends with a similarly ominous acoustic outro. 

Of course, there’s still plenty of thrashing in between. ‘Killer For Hire’ rides the line between dissonant leads ala classic Slayer and gritty speeds of Helloween circa Walls Of Jericho (Noise) complete with ripping chorus while ‘Megalomaniac’ sees the vocals at their most venom spitting. 

It’s the sort of release that would be a bit more substantial if another song or two were added, but anybody who enjoyed their debut or Chastain-esque Heavy Metal in general should get a kick out of this.

8 / 10

CHRIS LATTA