The time has come for Rattlesnakes!
After just one EP, the English band led by Elliott Dryden (bass), Nathan Gratton (drums), Josh Brown (guitar), Rowena Neale (vocals), and George Charleston (guitar) has signed with Listenable Records and announced its debut album, Shadows In The Night.
The band kicks things off with the fierce yet catchy Shadows in the Night, quickly delivering a fine display of thrash-infused heavy metal, whether through Rowena’s powerful vocals or the riffs that race along at breakneck speed. It’s impossible not to headbang or sing along to the choruses while the band lets loose, but we move on fairly quickly to Forever and its slightly calmer approach, at least in terms of the equally catchy rhythm section and its Old School roots. It’s easy to get swept up in the moment, just as with Breakdown, which adds a touch of technical finesse through its harmonics, followed by the long, melancholic Spellbound, which shifts gears slightly while retaining its infectious energy. That said, the vocalist doesn’t stay in her comfort zone, delivering an intense performance before picking up the pace again on Destroyer, the next track, which in turn guarantees an excellent moment with jerky yet melodic riffing, as well as piercing leads that perfectly match the drum’s accelerations. Another dose of calm with Dreamland, an instrumental interlude that’s almost too gentle, before the restless The Other Side of Midnight, which features hints of Hard Rock while maintaining its momentum with shrill harmonics that rival the vocals; then comes Lost Nor Found, which packs a serious punch right from the intro and maintains a constant sense of aggression. Where the River Meets the Sea evokes a fresh wave of nostalgia thanks to its stripped-down sound and moving clean vocals, making this power ballad a true highlight of the album – and even reigniting the energy with its solo. The album is already drawing to a close with For Even Gods Can Die, the band’s final chance to get us headbanging with a rousing gallop, backing vocals, and those same bursts of fury that give the track its soul!
If you loved ’80s Heavy Metal, Rattlesnakes will offer you a youth therapy all over again! The band knows its roots, and Shadows In The Night is a true joy to listen to—it’s so rhythmic and catchy!
90/100