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POISONED CHALICE
Poisoned Chalice EP

Self-released (2022)
Rating: 7/10

I don’t know a lot about this California band, but you slip them alongside Knight’s Oath as purveyors of gloomy New Wave Of British Heavy Metal-inspired trad metal.

This EP is the work of vocalist / guitarist Calvin Adrian and drummer Ben Richardson, alongside guest bassist Menno Verbaten, while the four tracks were mastered by multi-instrumentalist Joel Grind (Toxic Holocaust).

If you trawl the depths of the early-to-mid 80s you’ll come across a lot of stuff like this; Euro Goth metal that’s often stark, stripped and doomy as hell. In this case, as opening cut ‘Death’s Right Hand’ begins its trundle, I’m nodding to the stuffiness and mesmerised by the solid steel framework of guitars and bass. Meanwhile, the drums plod with anthemic quality to the storytelling croons of Calvin Adrian whose tone is far from polished, yet organic and at times slightly tuneless but effectively charming.

The band’s namesake cut fizzes with a killer groove, struttin’ confidently like early Iron Maiden and lapping at, say, Angel Witch or Diamond Head. But this is where Adrian really comes to the fore with his vocals, owning this little number as his gravelled tones shine amidst a stark percussive bubble and some infectious axe work. It is metal produced to simple effect, but there’s more a hint of unpredictability and progression on this number before it heads off into full metal mode with some axe wizardry and bass / percussion marrying.

‘Wastin’ Away’ keeps the ambling grooves going and is another cut that’s easy on the ear. This one is almost soulful with its strut, where smoking cylinders streak with Thin Lizzy nods as Richardson strikes heartily over the merry course. Again, I’m back in that NWOBHM fare; a place of medieval ramblings, smokin’ campfires and wistful storytelling affected by rural pub crawls. The axe work is again impressive, swirling effortlessly to the backing of the juddering bass.

The fiery chimes of ‘Sculpted Angels’ closes the affair where there’s flirtations with the likes of Desolation Angels as Poisoned Chalice explores esoteric, whether intentional or not.

Due to the stripped back nature of this tidy EP one can feel the organic vapours rising from its very core, because while this remains a no frills four-track ensemble, one cannot argue with its grit or storminess as the band, leather-clad and uptight, embarks on another steady rattle of doomy sermons and forlorn fancy. This is good stuff all round and the sort of release that exudes a mystery without trying.

Neil Arnold

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