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BLACK VIPER
Hellions Of Fire

High Roller (2018)
Rating: 7/10

The jeans couldn’t be worn much tighter as Oslo thrashers Black Viper embark on their debut album Hellions Of Fire. And what’s not to love about a straight up manic speed-ball of sound from a fresh-faced quartet of frashers?

I was turned onto these guys in 2016 through their Storming With Vengeance demo, which was a classy, high-pitched nervous wreck of a release that peered through the veil into 80s Teutonic zaniness. No surprise then that this debut full-length offers up similar tight and screeching designs; this one glinting in the darkness as the combo rattles and clanks in pure steel fashion by delivering a set of tidy and speedy songs straight out of the classic Helloween mould.

The three tracks which appeared on the demo – ‘Metal Blitzkrieg’, ‘Freedom’s Reign’ and ‘Storming With Vengeance’ – all feature here, although they’ve been polished and tweaked a tad more. But whatever track is plucked from the air remains a rewarding treat for anyone still high on 80s nostalgia.

The leads are strong and supplied with fury, the riffs cause sparks to fly from the speakers, the drums race with reckless and abandon, and the bass thunders with courageous aplomb. So that just leaves the vocal flair of Salvador Armijo, who doesn’t disappoint. Indeed, some of his wails and shrieks could attract a pack of dogs from a great distance such is their high-pitched sincerity.

What we get here is that speed metal fused with power metal vibe, while slower segments are straight out of the trad’ metal rulebook. It’s not exactly flashy but the guys are fantastic musicians, and all are given room to breathe.

I still love the ‘Storming With Vengeance’ track; the way it builds into a scorching frenzy and unravels as a speed metal masterclass is admirable – I’m actually reminded of Vulture and Viper with its passion and energy.

However, it’s not all about snappy expressions, and the band certainly shows its mysticism and maturity with an epic brace of tracks in the form of ‘Quest For Power / The Fountain Of Might’ and ‘Nightmare Mausoleum (The Sleeper Must Awaken)’. Both feature fantastic percussion from Cato Stormoen of Deathhammer fame. Meanwhile, the excellent axe attack of Arild Myren Torp goes without saying as he sews together seven ferocious yet concise offerings.

If I was to compare these guys to any other 80s band then I’d probably lean towards the likes of Agent Steel or even Death Angel at their most frantic and volatile, because the flurries are similar as are the wails which ascend forevermore into the night sky. It could be argued that this is pretty much blazing yet standard fare for today’s market, after all the 80s are back in vogue, but Black Viper does inject such youthful exuberance into their sound so as to remain fresh and punchy.

Everything about Hellions Of Fire is rewarding and brim full of aggression; even when the band drops the pace the glimmer of their blades remains blinding. A whole host of bands are revelling and dabbling with such designs and not all will succeed or see the light, but as debut albums go Black Viper’s has enough venom to keep you on your toes.

Neil Arnold

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