Johnny Touch
Inner City Wolves
Shadow Kingdom Records
2014
There are some heavy metal releases which take us back in time… specifically in the 80s when this music used to rule the TV, the radio and the whole f@cking world! Yeah, I’m talking about heavy metal music... in a time when various metal tags didn’t exist to describe today’s music. No matter if we call it traditional metal, classic metal or whatever… the bottom line is the same. This is exactly the case here. Johnny Touch are coming from down under and they are paying their tribute to the 80s heavy metal… a music which meant to mark our souls and hearts forever.
Even though Johnny Touch has existed since 2008, they have only released a demo tape and two split 7" until now. Their debut album is the epitome of 80s heavy metal music. Nothing more, nothing less. Heavy metal music influenced by the Judas Priest, Crimson Glory, Iron Maiden, Diamond Head, Malmsteen, Riot, King Diamond, Jag Panzer and so forth. The album’s production has that 80s “warm sound” all over it and the cover artwork is so damn metal – straight from the 80s!
Probably the whole thing might sound a bit weird and outdated to the modern metal fans (WTF?!) but the whole situation is so bloody charming for all of us who have been raised with this kind of music and never got over it; obviously we never will! Apart from the 80s sound, Johnny Touch’s songwriting has its roots deep into the aforementioned acts; their guitarist, Jamie Whyte, is a guitar virtuoso (ala Yngwie) and their amazing vocalist, Pahl Hodgson, will bring something of Midnight in your mind.
Hence what do we have here? A bloody heavy metal band which has the skills to write and play metal music as it was in the 80s. How did Manowar use to say it? “Whimps and posers leave the hall”… hell yeah!!! If this album had been released in the late 80s, things would have been absolutely different for this band. Moreover this album features the track “The Metal Embrace” which is a pure heavy metal hymn! The guitars, the solo, the melodies, the rhythm section, the voice, everything is… so friggin’ awesome! I do not know where such an album can get ‘em but I totally think that they deserve (at least) a place at any year’s Keep it True Festival. After all, “Inner City Wolves” marks the beginning of this heavy metal quartet from Australia…
Even though Johnny Touch has existed since 2008, they have only released a demo tape and two split 7" until now. Their debut album is the epitome of 80s heavy metal music. Nothing more, nothing less. Heavy metal music influenced by the Judas Priest, Crimson Glory, Iron Maiden, Diamond Head, Malmsteen, Riot, King Diamond, Jag Panzer and so forth. The album’s production has that 80s “warm sound” all over it and the cover artwork is so damn metal – straight from the 80s!
Probably the whole thing might sound a bit weird and outdated to the modern metal fans (WTF?!) but the whole situation is so bloody charming for all of us who have been raised with this kind of music and never got over it; obviously we never will! Apart from the 80s sound, Johnny Touch’s songwriting has its roots deep into the aforementioned acts; their guitarist, Jamie Whyte, is a guitar virtuoso (ala Yngwie) and their amazing vocalist, Pahl Hodgson, will bring something of Midnight in your mind.
Hence what do we have here? A bloody heavy metal band which has the skills to write and play metal music as it was in the 80s. How did Manowar use to say it? “Whimps and posers leave the hall”… hell yeah!!! If this album had been released in the late 80s, things would have been absolutely different for this band. Moreover this album features the track “The Metal Embrace” which is a pure heavy metal hymn! The guitars, the solo, the melodies, the rhythm section, the voice, everything is… so friggin’ awesome! I do not know where such an album can get ‘em but I totally think that they deserve (at least) a place at any year’s Keep it True Festival. After all, “Inner City Wolves” marks the beginning of this heavy metal quartet from Australia…