Artist: 3 Inches Of Blood
Title: Long Live Heavy Metal
Genre: Heavy/ Power Metal
Release Date: 23rd March 2012
Label: Century Media Records
Album Review
Heavy/ Power Metal outfit 3 INCHES OF BLOOD are still going strong as they unleash their anthem-led fifth full length album, ‘Long Live Heavy Metal’. A testimony to a genre that has been pushed under the rug too many times by mainstream music shops and created plenty of controversy since its inception, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD keep their upbeat, yet raw sound that has the clean, crisp touch of Power Metal but the rather heavy, direct churnings of older Heavy Metal. Tracks like ‘Metal Woman’ and ‘Leather Lord’ feature more of a direct, basic chugging assault mixed in with technical solos and the high pitched, clean singing that is associated with Power Metal that can be a hit or miss depending on vocal preference. From the pace of the music listeners will definitely feel the anthem parts in the chorus and will be able to tell the influences from bands as far back as VENOM to JUDAS PRIEST. Other tracks like ‘Die For Gold’ are a bit more upbeat and seem “happier” in tone, but still carry that Battle Metal tone that associated with Fantasy Metal these days without sounding cliché. Here the guitars are much more active in their solo work as opposed to thick, churning chugs of earlier tracks and will give Power Metal fans a run for their interests.
3 INCHES OF BLOOD also aim to mix things up with softer bits too, but they aren’t ballads. Throwing in some folk elements works to their advantage quite well, such as on ‘Chief And The Blade’ which features acoustic guitar, flute, thumping percussion and a whole new set of ambiance that fans may not have expected. ‘One For The Ditch’ is similar except it starts out acoustic and then builds more into the heavier sections with electric guitar and a set of chanting choral vocals that make it certainly feel like tavern Metal or something that might come from a band like HEIDEVOLK. Like the earlier tracks it carries that heavy anthem quality to it that will certainly stir up live crowds while at the same time not feeling repetitive or cliché. There is a lack of vocals here but overall this semi instrumental does a good job at varying up 3 INCHES OF BLOOD without throwing in a predictable closing acoustic session or repeating what was done with ‘Chief And The Blade’. As a whole, ‘Long Live Heavy Metal’ could have been a chance for 3 INCHES OF BLOOD to do something wild and outside the box by playing with the title to their music, but for the most part they stay within the confines of their past work that they did, which will certainly satisfy fans who have followed them ever since their debut.
Tracklist
01. Metal Woman - 4:48
02. My Sword Will Not Sleep - 4:37
03. Leather Lord - 3:57
04. Chief and the Blade - 2:27
05. Dark Messenger - 4:07
06. Look Out - 5:29
07. 4000 Torches - 4:16
08. Leave It on the Ice - 3:34
09. Die for Gold (Upon the Boiling Sea IV) - 4:03
10. Storming Juno - 4:24
11. Men of Fortune - 7:35
12. One for the Ditch - 3:31
Line-up
Cam Pipes- Vocals (lead)
Shane Clark- Guitars (lead), Guitars (rhythm)
Justin Hagberg- Guitars (lead), Guitars (rhythm), Vocals (harsh), Bass
Ash Pearson- Drums, Percussion
Website
http://www.myspace.com/3iob
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 7
Sound: 8
Total: 7.5 / 10
Buy the album here!
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