When I was a budding metal head, Manowar was one of the bands that I absolutely worshipped as they were my first example of true heavy metal taken to glorious heights that I never knew existed. They helped me get further into metal that I thought possible, and they led me to where I am today which I’m ever thankful for. There have been bands that have taken that same love and decided to recreate the sound like bands like Manowar did, and even though that’s led to loads of garbage imitations, we get a true gem every now and then. Battle Raider’s new album seems to almost worship Manowar, and that leads to what can only be considered a gem of an album.

Sure, Manowar may not have even played a part in influencing Battle Raider, but there’s no confusing that incredible classic heavy metal sound that’s all but timeless and immortal. It’s a style that’s carried onto an entirely new generation of bands, and it’s groups like Battle Raider that keep my love for the style strong to the very end. With their eponymous sophomore album, this Mexican band did absolutely nothing to change the original sound a single bit. All of these eight tracks sound exactly what you would expect to hear out of early Manowar, Iron Maiden, and even fucking Cirith Ungol, and that’s something I can be really critical about if you simply copy and paste, but Battle Raider makes this music sound original with their own special flavor sprinkled throughout as opposed to taking every single fucking aspect of the greats and slapping it onto a CD to sell. This entire album is no less than a great morsel of heavy metal straight from the fucking past that anyone who’s a fan of the style will never tire of for every single reason you could think of and Battle Raider knows how to play on the nostalgia to maximize the fun as well as the awesomeness of this record. From beginning to end, Battle Raider delights with spectacular solos, soaring vocals that channel the legends of past, an attitude that not even the gods dare deny, and a level of fun that simply cannot be turned down by any fan of heavy metal who’s ever been!

I’ve always felt heavy metal was in good hands with acts like Grave Digger still going very strong, but now I see the next wave of heavy metal icons will be fronted by groups like Battle Raider and it’s no challenge to see why I say that. The future rest safely in the hands of these gentlemen, and I can’t implore you enough to check out this stand out piece of heavy metal greatness the likes of which will surely rope you in and show you a good time that you haven’t had in a long while for sure.

LISTEN to “Battle Raider” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Battle Raider on Facebook here.