Album Review: Twisting The Blade, Stereo Nasty

Stereo Nasty’s first release in 2015, Nasty by Nature, was an electric debut, with an 80s style heavy metal brand that bore resemblance to that of Dokken, Judas Priest and W.A.S.P. Their follow up album, Twisting the Blade is much of the same, with more raw guitars and grisly vocals from the Kildare four-piece.

Referencing the UK video nasties of the 1980s, the band harken back to the spikes and leather of the 80s. The cover of Twisting the Blade looks like the cover of films like The Prowler and immediately gives you an idea of what you’re in for. What Stereo Nasty do very well is capture the essence of that era in their music. Listening to songs such as ‘No One Gets Out Alive’, makes you feel like you’re in the pit of a smoke infested venue in 1986.

The opening track ‘Kill or be Killed’ is a stomping introduction, and the catchiest track on the album with a chorus that will stay in your head long after listening. The band have a talent for writing hooks and catchy choruses reminiscent of their 80’s counterparts W.A.S.P. ‘Reflection of Madness’ has a Megadeth quality to the song, with chugging guitar riffs and double-bass drumming which makes it another highlight of the album. Songs ‘Near Dark’ and ‘Through the Void’ allow vocalist Mick Mahon to really show his range of powerhouse vocals.

The album dips slightly from here, with songs becoming slightly rudimentary until the synthesiser interlude track ‘Vengeance’, which is an eerie reminder of the image the band wishes to convey. It’s a nice touch, but feels slightly strange thrown in as a second last track, when it might have worked nicely as an intro/outro. The final track, ‘Becoming the Beast’, has a combination of everything Stereo Nasty do well – razor-sharp riffs, powerful vocals, and a snappy chorus. A fitting choice to close the album with a track highlighting their talents.

Twisting the Blade and Nasty By Nature are available on vinyl from Sentinel Records now - www.sentinelrecords.com