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MECHANIC TYRANTS
St. Diemen Riots

Jawbreaker (2024)
Rating: 7/10

In 2022 the foundations of Nuremberg in Germany began to shudder when Mechanic Tyrants issued its debut EP, Meanhattan, based on a fictional city. Although boasting only three songs there was enough power and intensity to prompt me to give the opus a strong 8/10 rating.

With their debut full-length album, St. Diemen Riots, the band constructs a half-concept opus which once again is set in Meanhatten. More streetwise metal abounds as complete with 80s moustaches Mechanic Tyrants lurches forward with their oily brand of no nonsense rock.

‘Tower 42’ kicks off proceedings with a nice catchy mid-tempo riff before the guys launch into a thrashy melody, the vocals being clear yet rather understated. Even so, it’s fiery heavy metal bristling with fury and passion as ‘Murder At The Barricades’ gallops with a traditional metal intensity as the melodious lead squirms its way through. The gang chant of the chorus boasts a somewhat punky attitude and at times that’s where the band sits; energetic and borderline 80s throwback but with modern variations. Take for instance the title cut which has a pop punk sensibility but a backbone of thrash.

The mix is unorthodox and not always to my taste, but the riffs throughout are certainly spicy enough. The band doesn’t take itself too seriously though, so when there is fun to be had the likes ‘Speed Metal Guerrilla’ will suffice as hints of Metallica and Megadeth spring to mind.

At their heaviest, the combo hits the sweet spot with ‘Sons Of Evil’, even though it’s a touch overlong at six beefy minutes. The savage riffs do persist though, the aforementioned title track a great example of the glistening power, as is ‘Ruins Of The Past’, while ‘Madrugada’ showcases a subtlety as an acoustic interlude. My favourite song though is probably ‘Above The Law’ which has a bit of a classic Judas Priest vibe, more so in the haste in the axework.

St. Diemen Riots is definitely a solid debut album, albeit one with peaks and troughs. But hey, no one is perfect.

Neil Arnold

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