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VIRGIN IDOL
Virgin Idol

Super Sargasso (2022)
Rating: 7/10

This is the debut full-length studio record from Champaign, Illinois-based Virgin Idol, a trio that indulges in straightforward heavy metal.

The album serves up nine tracks, although two of these are an intro (‘Prologue’) and ‘Outro’, plus one instrumental entitled ‘Junji’. But packed around them are some tasty treats.

‘Don’t Touch The Flame’ sets the tone for the album, being a mid-paced but infectious rocker brimming with an Accept-like quality, particularly in the vocal assault of bassist J.R. Preston. What becomes very clear from the off, however, is the band’s simplistic design. There’s nothing fancy at all about Virgin Idol, but they do have a knack within their framework of creating steady metal that harkens back to the likes of Judas Priest, Saxon and the aforementioned Accept.

‘Satan’s Will’ chugs with a fiery menace, ‘Do It Again’ has a strong 80s vibe, circa King Diamond, yet feels primitive in structure. Hats off though to drummer Chris Reed for hammering his way through not just this deep, dark track, but the entire opus, which at times, in spite of its simplistic clank, feels genuinely odd and arcane.

‘Demon Night’ and ‘Heartshaker’ are straight-up metal head nodders. Both are a touch generic but easy on the ears and leather-clad all the same. Meanwhile, ‘Russian Roulette’ embarks on an early Mötley Crüe vibe in tone, and I’m also reminded of relatively obscure 80s shock rockers Krank too due to the raw, demo quality of proceedings.

This is a debut album that will probably drift under the radar of many, but even with its repetition there’s an authentic hellish feel to this, so get the black candles lit and do it again!

Neil Arnold

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