RSS Feed


STEALTH
Metal Force

Witches Brew (2025)
Rating: 6/10

The album title is certainly fitting for this online magazine and the cover art is better suited to 1984, such is its cheesiness. When I see this sort of art work I wonder if Stealth is attempting to look retro, or simply the illustrator isn’t very good. Whatever the case, Metal Force is the debut full-length album from this Italian outfit that formed in Verona in 2019, releasing two demos the following year.

Actually, Metal Force is a bit better than the cover art suggests; the trio of Ryan Heavy (vocals and drums), Rich Rascal (guitars), and L.C. Hammer (bass) churn out speeding heavy metal dredged from the clogged lakes of the 80s. Ryan’s vocals are a rather primitive squawk that warble rather tepidly to the sound of his own tumultuous kit slaps. However, the bass tone is what holds this together providing a solid spine to the overall sound that is something akin to a speed metal meets punk vibe; generic, predictable and yet no doubt appealing to those who seek a bit of 80s nostalgia. The trouble is, why sound like something which back in the day would have been so disposable?

The opening title track zips with haste but the guitar is just a fuzz ball, and none of the tracks make much of an impact however many times you play it. The harsh fact is that this is lower league metal, but it’s charm lies in its cheesiness and there are a few exceptions here: ‘Release The Fire’ is a solid speed metal number featuring an ugly guitar but admirable Stone Age drumming, while ‘Fast To Madness’ stomps like a punky AC/DC.

The guitar sound is greasy, the skins thud and the feel is of a stuffy Teutonic-cum-UK rattle. Throw in Venom, old Accept, Destruction, Exciter etc. and that’s what Stealth mimic, but with ‘Night Creature’ there’s a sizzling AC/DC tempo as the band sleazily traipse like drunken vandals in the night.

This is back alley rock and barroom biker metal all rolled into one. ‘Downtime’ is Angus Young on speed, ‘Comfort Woman’ a drooling dash of leathery junk, and it’s no surprise that a cover rendition of the AC/DC classic ‘Dog Eat Dog’ slides on here too. I’ve given this album several listens and it’s obviously limited in its appeal, but if you like smutty speed metal then Stealth might just add that extra layer of grime to your unwashed dishes.

Neil Arnold

<< Back to Album & EP Reviews



Related Posts via Categories
Share