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EVIL HUNTER
Evil Hunter

Fighter (2018)
Rating: 8.5/10

Evil Hunter is a new Spanish metal outfit featuring Damián Chicano (vocals, Chicanos), José Rubio (guitar, Magara / Nova Era / ex-Warcry), Victor Durán (guitar, Nightfear / ex-Lords Of Black), Alberto Garrido (bass, Alien Rockin’ Explosion / ex-Black Hat) and Gustavo Segura (drums, Nova Era).

The album comes armed with eight tracks which I had hoped contradicted the glossy sci-fi design, and thankfully they do. Although this is still very much contemporary power / melodic metal that at times nods to more traditional, galloping values of older heavy metal.

Vocally, Chicano has an interesting blend of scratchy, high-pitched wails with more commanding tones that would suit a majority of Scandinavian melodic power metal acts. But with this debut album the combo has constructed a batch of good, steady metallic offerings.

The outing begins with the catchy drive of ‘Surf The Waves’, which I really enjoyed until its rather melodious, icy chorus. Other than that it’s a straight up power metal rigour emblazoned by the steely guitar work of Rubio and Durán who provide a real professionalism and weight to proceedings as Segura hammers away in concise fashion.

‘Evil Hunter’ begins with authority, the steady drum and chuggy bass working in tandem with the crunchy, glistening riffs and again we get a harmonious chorus. Chicano has hints of, dare I say it, Axl Rose fused with a power metal design. His rich tones serve him well on this pummelling track, the posse comfortably finding a medium between metallic and melodic without grating on the nerves. But it’s no real surprise that the album soon becomes a warm, contagious listen, as these guys have been around the block in various bands.

‘Heartbeat’ fizzes in with a steady bass and drum gallop, although this time the guitars take on a seemingly Nordic battle metal vibe, while ‘Hot Leather’ simmers slowly initially as Chicano’s maniacal laugh and whisper brings in a fizzing solo and funky bass trundle. Here, Evil Hunter marry a cooler mid-tempo roll with classic metal nuances, and for some reason I’m reminded of cult California metallers WWIII. Again it’s down to that fusion of power metal, straight up metal and more groove-based structures, but ‘Hot Leather’ really is a quality tune showcasing the vocal variances of Chicano.

Thankfully that quality continues throughout the rest of the album. ‘Hold Me Tight’ is a faster, juddering lump of molten groove metal with a sizzling chorus, while ‘Go’ is an out and out ballsy thrasher with its blazing chugging at the start – fans of Accept will devour this one. However, with ‘By Your Side’ the subtle details come into the fold. This is circa the late-80s hard rock, drifting into the fluffy void once inhabited by the likes of Whitesnake. Boy, is this a warm and rich power ballad, Evil Hunter showing that there’s still life in the metal balladry stakes.

But just when you think the band is mellowing, we’re hit by the closing hammer ‘Open Up Your Eyes’, another veritable powerhouse of rousing vocal wails and thrashing variances as Garrido’s bass thunders with aplomb to the speedy charge of riffs.

Evil Hunter really have come up trumps with this blistering debut; a record of metal maturity that runs effortlessly like a well-oiled machine, but most importantly blows the roof off with its power and melody.

Neil Arnold

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