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MERCILESS LAW
Grimoire For The Ultimate Sinner EP

Stormspell (2023)
Rating: 8/10

I made a big mistake by listening to Solitary Sabred’s new album, Temple Of The Serpent, before this EP so naturally Merciless Law seems to pale considerably. But anyway, I still commend Los Ángeles, Chile-based multi-instrumentalist Pancho Ireland and his commitment to the metal way because he has composed another solid, if somewhat pitchy (vocally) outing that bristles with that heavy / power metal energy. The riffs are crunchy, the solos are crisp and one gets the feel of an interesting hybrid of, say, Megadeth and Fates Warning.

Pancho is clearly a talented guy, his soloing on ‘Rulers Of A Sinful World’ is sublime and it suggests to me that he’d be a far greater force with a full band behind him so that he can concentrate on his axe. Even so, this EP – which boasts four songs – is awash with some fantastic guitar work from the scorching hot pace n’ power of ‘Living To Die’ though to the labyrinth of ‘The Taste Of Death’, which veers into Helloween territory only with extra shred, and closer ‘Balor’ with its galloping thrash.

What I really like about Pancho though is his ability to cram in so much for the listener. There is no repetition, but neither does he befuddle his audience, although it remains a technically gifted slab of music that deserves an extra push. Under the Merciless Law moniker, Pancho has issued two full-length albums and another EP so it’s worth checking those out too if you’re not familiar with his output.

Neil Arnold

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