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GUN BARREL
Damage Dancer

Massacre (2014)
Rating: 6.5/10

Damage Dancer is the sixth release by this German bunch of metalheads, who are arguably one of metal’s most prolific acts considering they formed in 1998. All I can say is that if you like classic metal bands such as Saxon, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, AC/DC et al, then you’re going to love this 12-track rocker.

Interestingly, Gun Barrel have yet to find their real identity. That has been made all the more difficult by the fact that since their inception they’ve had various vocal alterations. Even so, Patrick Sühl – who has been fronting the band since 2011 – has a fair set of old fashioned pipes on him, reminding me of Saxon’s Biff Byford in that he’s clean, cool and extremely effective as the quartet rattles through a handful of steady and uncompromising numbers.

The album starts with the rollicking title track, which begins with charging drums from Toni Pinciroli and a fluent guitar sound courtesy of founding member Rolf Tanzius. It’d be unfair to call this no frills metal, because for all its simplicity Damage Dancer is a high-octane, well-oiled machine that hits the spot if you’re in the mood for a straight up heavy metal shoot ’em up that does exactly what it says on the barrel. Gun Barrel’s sixth throw of the dice is a marked improvement on 2012’s Brace For Impact, which was the album that introduced me to these guys.

However, it could be argued that the reason Gun Barrel have yet to make their mark on the metal scene is due to the lack of personality – not just in the vocals, but the rather basic yet energetic approach to the songs. Although a majority of the tracks are communicable, they do nothing more than provide a good night in, mixing that AC/DC swagger with less threatening dynamics which, when the band are in the mood, border on extremely lightweight thrash – think maybe a touch of Metal Church on that opener.

Mind you, ‘Bashing Thru’ has a real sleazy edge to its riff, although the harder metalheads among you will no doubt dig the sway of ‘Judgment Day’ – which reminds me The Cult in places – while ‘Passion Rules’, ‘Building A Monster’, ‘Back Alley Ruler’ and ‘Vultures Are Waiting’ especially are all extremely good tracks that walk that line between weighty boogie rock and power metal caress.

A tad generic in its snarl, Damage Dancer belongs in that indecisive void once inhabited by fellow German rockers Thunderhead (although Gun Barrel lack the meat), in that it’s a record that offers little in the way of variety or colour, and yet when it gets a head full of steam can rock with some of the best.

Neil Arnold

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