As a fan of Cleopatra Records, I’ve seen their social media pages teasing pictures of William Shatner for the past few months. Other blips on my radar suggest he’s contributed to a project involving metal music, but little was known about this project going in.
Nuclear Messiah’s Black Flame—releasing Friday, April 24–opens with Shatner doing a narrative voiceover with lead guitars behind his voice, the mood is set for an apocalyptic ride through high fantasy landscapes of distortion and grit.
Chris Poland (former Megadeth guitarist) has assembled an extensive revolving door of talent that aims to cram as much lead guitar work into a track as possible.
My overall impression is that this album is for fans of lead guitar work in a setting that reflects the roots of heavy rock, more than a matter of making something contemporary.
I noticed this on the first full song, “Devil Won’t Let Go,” where a classic sound reminded me of car rides with my dad when I was a kid.
Another defining attribute of this record that stands out is the use of an organ through the majority of the songs. This sound is the cornerstone of the bridge that connected late psychedelic rock with the sounds of early metal.
That vibe, coupled with the sleek lead guitars perfected in the 1980s, has resulted in something that nods to the past and stands firm in making something that sounds authentically of the era.
The sound adds a certain charm that would be lacking if the drums utilized modern production techniques that are hallmarks of the genre. This nod towards an old-school sound conjures a nostalgic longing in these new songs.
There’s a technical musicianship that doesn’t get lost in the sauce, as it hones the vessel for Poland’s artistry.
There’s so much on this record to unpack musically, but the simple desire to craft a song others would want to hear isn’t lost.
Black Flame by Nuclear Messiah delivers on all fronts. These songs are fun and upbeat.
“Ride The Sky” feels like a fantasy driven quest where you’re led about by a wizard. The slow tempo opening of “Dice And Thunder” has this slow rhythmic bounce that is worth hearing again and again.
The whole record feels like an unapologetic guitar driven adventure through a world that resembles the 1977 film, Wizards by Ralph Bakshi.
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Tracklist
1. The Prophet Of Fallout feat. Chris Poland & William Shatner
2. Devil Won't Let Go feat. Chris Poland, Ronnie Romero, Vinnie Moore, Vinny Appice, Don Airey, Steve Di Giorgio
3. Death Or Glory feat. Chris Poland, Thor, Bob Daisley, Glen Drover, Fred Aching
4. Ride The Sky feat. Chris Poland, Arthur Brown, Vinny Appice, Alan Davey
5. Dice And Thunder feat. Chris Poland, Rick Wakeman, Ronnie Romero, Bumblefoot, Steve Di Giorgio, Fred Aching
6. For Mad Men Only feat. Chris Poland, Pat Travers, Joe Lynn Turner, Alan Davey, Shawn Drover
7. Nuclear Messiah feat. Chris Poland, Lance Lopez, Greg Walker, Tim “Ripper” Owens, Vinny Appice, Don Airey
8. Look At Yourself feat. Chris Poland, Sebastian Bach, Derek Sherinian, Bob Daisley, Mick Box, Carmine Appice
9. She's So Evil feat. Chris Poland, Joel Hoekstra, David Ellefson, Don Airey, Andrew Freeman, Simon Wright
10. Black Flame feat. Chris Poland, Ronnie Romero, Jonathan Cain, Phil Soussan, Glen Drover, Chris Adler
11. Electric Burn feat. Chris Poland, Marty Friedman, Joe Bouchard, Marc Lopes, Chris Adler
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