White Wizzard‘s 4th Full Length album starts off with balls-to-the-wall, insane speed, beautiful melodic guitar riffs and power metal drum grooves that are on point with such aggression.
With an almost original line-up that includes long standing original member and Bass player Jon Leon, Back on Vocals is Wyatt “Screaming Demon “Anderson, original guitar player James J LaRue back where he belongs and rounding it all out is new drummer Dylan Marks. With this long-awaited release, it is everything we were waiting for and more. This line up has brought it to the next level on “Infernal Overdrive”, with their long-standing producer Ralph Patlan (Megadeth, UFO, Flotsam and Jetsam) they hit the nail on the head here.
Straight out the gate with the title track “Infernal Overdrive”, heavy ass riffs, ferrous speed and killer lyrics with a very simple structure to make you want to scream your heart out with them. They pay homage to classic heavy metal icons like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden but also bring in the totally new era of heavy metal. These guys are so young but so seasoned already. Driving on with “Storm the Shores” a gritty tribute to the men and woman that have fought and died for the idea of freedom for all and peace around the world. On to my favorite track on the album “Pretty May”, this little jam has everything you looking for, wickedly addictive drum beat, crushing licks, a hint of the blues with a very important message about addiction all wrapped up in tight story line. Very well rounded song and catchy as fuck.
Chasing Dragons moves in a different direction grooving in almost a funk like state at times with power leads that just run all over this song, massive power balled I’d say from them. Very fresh tune to jam in the middle of this already stacked track list. Rolling into “Voyage of The Wolf Raiders” the beginning starts like you’re on a Spanish ship sailing the seas. It puts you in a place in time you have yet to experience. Pushing through this track you get nothing short of an anthem of metal and madness. With “Critical Mass” you get classic heavy metal up your ass. The “Screaming Demon” Wyatt Anderson goes next level on some of the notes he’s wailing on in this track it’s downright amazing. “Cocoon” is a great example of the morph from classic heavy metal with a newer age approach and a real slowed down grove for them and I’m diggin it, this album breaths. With our last two tracks, we hit up “Metamorphosis” and “The Illusion’s Tears”. With “Metamorphosis” you get to hear the real pros at work as this song is so technically progressive and diverse it brings you a little of every part that is White Wizzard.
Closing out this brilliant track list is “The Illusion’s Tears” a great song to end a spectacular ride on this Infernal Overdrive. Packed with everything you’ve loved from White Wizzard in the past this line up, producer and time together brought this whole album full circle. This is one to run out and grab right away. It has it all groves, riffs, soaring vocals, bellowing drums. This train is on a track that can’t be stopped. Get on it and ride it while you can.