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BLIZZARD HUNTER
Heavy Metal To The Vein

Pure Underground (2015)
Rating: 7/10

Blizzard Hunter hail from Lima in Peru and have been in existence since 2006 when they were formed under the moniker Blizzard, which they lengthened in 2014. Their debut offering was 2014’s Conqueror Of Destiny EP, and the three tracks which featured on that particular work are all included on this full-length opus.

In total, Heavy Metal To The Vein offers up ten tracks, and just the mere title of this platter suggested to me that this was going to be one of those new school bunch of old school worshippers… and I was right.

However, it’s certainly not all bad. Blizzard Hunter bring a freshness to their plan of attack and conjure up images of a Kai Hansen-fronted Helloween, with a display of molten metal that is both pacey and melodic and not anywhere near as annoying as one might expect.

Many may ask what is it that Blizzard Hunter offers which so many other contemporary bands cannot, when it comes to reflecting the past? Well, it’s often down to the musicianship, obviously, but there’s also believability here too; the band’s frontman Sebastián “Dragón” Palma has a fair set of pipes which soar high upon the steely barrage of guitarists Toño “Wild Rocker” Rojas De la Cuba and Lucho Sánchez. I’d be interested to hear how Palma’s cries stand up on the live stage, but this is very much a classic metal delivery also fanning the flames of Judas Priest and Iron Maiden.

Each track gallops along with high energy and sincerity; these youngsters clearly believe in the music they are constructing. And while the image suggests the band may have to move away from the laughable lycra leggings, I’m still transported headlong into a melting pot of powerful metal which borders at times on thrashing sensibility.

The catchiest of all the tracks on offer is the title track; a pacey affair featuring killer leads and strong bass from Lalo “Indú” Salas. ‘The Joke’ is another fast and furious lump of sizzling metal featuring a drum sound which as now resorted to a frenzied sprint. At times I’m reminded of Death Angel, but that’s probably due to the clinical vocals which have that innocent yelp to them, while ‘I’m On My Way’ has a killer riff to start off with, before a vocal scream peels the wallpaper.

Okay, so Blizzard Hunter may lack variety, but this is mainly due to naïvety and their intent to hammer out their policies, all the while worshipping at the altar of their chosen musical genre. I still can’t shake the early Helloween influence, which is again apparent on ‘Ghost Rider’ – a track that also mixes early Priest and New Wave Of British Heavy Metal traits – but it showcases the band at their more melodic and steady. There’s even a hint of Mercyful Fate in there somewhere, but with ‘The Murder’ there’s further evidence of confidence and maturity as a steady rhythm builds and the combo reaches a nice sturdy level of prowess.

Of course, it’s not all great – at times the vocals do veer out of tune and the music can seem a tad naïve – but we’re still talking about a band in its infancy who if given the time and right advice should grow into quite a force.

Neil Arnold

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