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IMPELLITTERI
Venom

Frontiers (2015)
Rating: 8/10

I’m ashamed to admit that I lost track of Impellitteri’s career after 1992’s Grin And Bear It opus. I have great memories however of purchasing the 1987 self-titled EP and 1988’s excellent Stand In Line, and while only hearing a smattering of more recent releases I’ve still been impressed as to how the band – in whatever shape or form – has marched on through the decades.

Having been formed by American guitar wiz’ Chris Impellitteri in 1987, and featuring the likes of vocalist Graham Bonnet (ex-Rainbow, ex-MSG) and bassist Chuck Wright (ex-Quiet Riot) in their ranks over the years, it seems only right that this combo has been given the respect it deserves.

It’s also great that original vocalist Rob Rock (Driver, ex-Joshua) is still within the fold, having appeared on the debut EP and Grin And Bear It, as well as Answer To The Master (1994), Screaming Symphony (1996), Eye Of The Hurricane (1997), Crunch (2000) and Wicked Maiden (2009). For this latest opus – the band’s tenth full-length – Rock and Chris Impellitteri are joined by James Amelio Pulli (bass), who has been with the band since 1992, and newest member Joe Dette (drums), who has worked with the likes of Anthrax, Iced Earth, Slayer, Heathen and Testament.

Venom certainly lives up to its title and more; this is all guns blazing, straight down the line heavy metal featuring power, expertly crafted tunes and dazzling musicianship. As I’m constantly saying, while numerous modern bands seem to spend their entirety trying to create an 80s sound – which in most cases they weren’t even old enough to experience – bands like Impellitteri march on, showing the pretenders how to fire out extravagant but cold steel burning metal.

The title track introduced me to this record and it’s a fine affair naturally energised by Chris Impellitteri’s spectacular fretwork and the impressive vocal wails of Rock, who still has enough power and presence to give a majority of younger, contemporary shouters a run for their money. ‘Venom’ sets out the stall for the rest of the album with the emphasis on the driving riffs of the axe-man, while the rest of the band do a competent job at keeping the metal minimalistic but always fiery.

‘Empire Of Lies’ follows; a rattling good adventure featuring sprinting drums and some fantastic vocal work taking this tune into power metal realms. Of course it’s only a matter of time before Chris Impellitteri exerts himself with another rollicking lick, but it’s still sizzling metal harking back to the golden age while employing modern dynamics and those infectious choruses.

The same can also be said for the riveting ‘We Own The Night’ which takes on a traditional metal approach; the lyrics are rather mediocre, but it’s still fist-pumping stuff. However, this pales into comparison to the driving thrash workout of ‘Nightmare’, the hammering ‘Holding On’ where Dette comes into his own, and my personal brace of favourites; the scorchingly heavy ‘Jehova’ with its juddering rhythms and soaring vocals, and the high octane ‘Rise’ which again steers towards classic metal nuances. But all of course feature those distinctive neo-classical licks.

In no way is this standard metal, however simply built around Chris Impellitteri’s dynamics; each member puts in a shift to the point that each track is rewarding, with a majority being pacey affairs that go for the throat. It’s a long time ago that Chris emerged from the shadows of Yngwie J. Malmsteen and Impellitteri is very much an animal that can stand on its own two feet and battle it out with the best.

In spite of the expected flashy axe work, Impellitteri is not a show-off band but one which consistently churns out a high standard of metal on each record, and that in itself is a quality to be admired.

Neil Arnold

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