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May 2024

• Marty Friedman: Drama
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April 2024

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March 2024

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February 2024

• Traveler: Prequel To Madness
• Lionheart: The Grace Of A Dragonfly
• Honeymoon Suite: Alive
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• Smoking Snakes: Danger Zone
• Revolution Saints: Against The Winds
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Traveler: Prequel To Madness

Traditional Heavy/Speed Metal

4.0/5.0

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No Remorse Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 23.02.2024 | Released: 23.02.2024

The last we heard from Traveler was in Spring 2020 with their sophomore effort Termination Shock, just when the COVID shit hit the fan. Despite the impact of that pandemic, Traveler would drop a single in 2022, a cover of Diamond Head's The Prince. In that same year, Nolan Benedetti (Hrom) would replace Chad Valler on drums. The following year, Jake Axl Wendt, also from Hrom and Wych, would arrive on bass. Now the quintet drops their long-awaited third metal opus, Prequel To Madness, now on the No Remorse label.

Traveler

For the uninitiated, or those with short term memory loss, Traveler offers twin guitar driven traditional heavy speed metal, very much an inspiration of Eighties NWoBHM and its American interpretations. Distilling their sound a bit more, Traveler is fast and heavy from the gate with the finishing line the epic blistering solos. Over this, Jean-Pierre Abboud continues to offer his assertive, often raw vocals.

Essentially, the entire album is a horse race, or something like the Daytona 500. The starting instrumental, Mayday, sets the tone: one minute and fifteen seconds of galloping speed metal. Then Take The Wheel, Dark Skull, and The Law put the pedal to the metal. Then, when we get to the middle of the album, Rebels Of Earth turns more upon classic heavy metal, being anthemic and driven by rock groove. It was my favorite song here, if not simply for change of pacing. Call that tune a small respite as the second half of the album roars and rages with more traditional speed metal. To be honest, I listen to Traveler mostly for the thrilling guitar work, trying at the same time to ignore Abboud's voice (which is a distraction.

Nevertheless, for classic heavy speed metal Traveler delivers the goods with Prequel To Madness. The album is fast, heavy, and intense with an abundance of thrilling guitar solos. Recommended for fans of the genre.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

For classic heavy speed metal Traveler delivers the goods with Prequel To Madness. The album is fast, heavy, and intense with an abundance of thrilling guitar solos. Recommended for fans of the genre.

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Next year, American metal band Riot V, founded by the late guitarist Mark Reale (d. 2012), will celebrate their 50th anniversary in the metal business. Though we haven't had a new studio album from the band ... [ Read More ]

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