In most cases, it is really important to choose what your pilot single off the new album will be. The fans well acquainted with your band will care to listen to the whole album no matter what, but the first single is crucial to attract the attention of those who’ve never heard of you. Well, Blind Wolf is the best first single I’ve heard since Metallica’s Hardwired, full stop. It made me shake with excitement and immediately ask my friends at Metal Blade for an early advance of the album – I just could not wait.
Brooklyn, New York’s Sanhedrin have been crafting their brand of old school, pure heavy metal, with a touch of doom, since 2015 and their ten-year anniversary will be celebrated with the fourth full length Heat Lightning. This power-trio has been a stable line-up since the beginning, with Erica Stoltz (ex-Hammers Of Misfortune) as front-woman and bassist, Nathan Honor on drums and Jeremy Sosville (ex-Black Anvil) on guitars. Their style hits straight through the heart with powerful riffs, instantly memorable choruses and fantastic guitar solos, the best reference probably being a cross between Thin Lizzy and early Black Sabbath. The aforementioned Blind Wolf is an absolute hymn with genius power-chords, a constantly building tension and a masterpiece of a solo by Jeremy. The same goes for the much faster third song Above The Law. The songs (in the whole album, not just these two) also possess a thunderous low bottom built by the fiery rhythm section by Erica and Nathan.
The title track is more laid-back, with a solemn melody in the first half, before hitting with another powerful progression of guitar riffs. The Fight Of Your Life wins with a very original, off-the-hook chorus, which follows the already well-expected mastery in crafting great melodies. The doomy King Of Tides reminds me of the band’s earlier albums, the stomping tempo and Sabbathian riffs evoking a dark, despaired atmosphere with Erica’s convincing storytelling on top. Franklin County Line is cleverly placed right after, being the album’s most straight-ahead and fastest rocker. Then we have Let’s Spill Some Blood, which is super catchy with an uplifting leading guitar melody and a sing-along chorus, contrasting in nature and mood with the message of the song title. Amazing music with one more killer solo.
High Threshold Of Pain is very heavy, combining the epicness in Erica’s singing with a harder edge of the instrumental part and is probably among the album’s most rewarding tracks which reveals its beauty to the fullest after several listens. At 2:23 the song turns abruptly into a moodier and darker direction, Jeremy once again destroying on guitar. Sanhedrin have chosen to close the album with the longest song When The Will Becomes The Chain – another nod to the more doomy beginnings of the band, before the last minute enchants us with a powerful interplay, a mini jam-session of sorts, between all three band members.
Heat Lightning is another celebration of great music by Sanhedrin, the band getting better and better with each new release. I’ve listened to the album at least 30 times since I received the promo and it still delivers and excites. It will be really hard to find and listen to a better classic heavy metal album this year which is not a carbon copy of the greats but has its own soul and face. Now, I only hope to finally see them live in Europe.
9/10
Heat Lightning is out on March 14th and can be pre-ordered from HERE
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