Having kicked around Newcastle, England in various configurations since their fall from Heaven in 1979, New Wave of British Heavy Metal luminaries Satan released their magnum opus ‘Court in the Act’ in 1983. A forward-thinking record that has only recently been acknowledged as the high-water mark that it is, ‘Court in the Act’ ran the gamut from thoughtful proto-thrash and groovy NWOBHM to idiosyncratic instrumentals and drinking anthems. Unfortunately, that record’s lineup was short-lived with singer Brian Ross exiting to rejoin his previous band Blitzkrieg, and Satan was left to pick up the pieces via some ill-advised moniker and genre shifts. Fast-forward to 2013 when the core of their 1983 lineup released the first taste of new music in 30 years in the form of that year’s ‘Life Sentence.’ ‘Atom by Atom’ followed in 2015, paving the way for 2018’s exceptional Metal Blade debut ‘Cruel Magic.’
The initial taste of new music from ‘Earth Infernal’ came in the form of a pre-release single, the spicy “Burning Portrait.” The song’s speedy descending riff underpins call and response guitar and vocal hooks as it builds to the infectious vocal melody and guitar arpeggios of its massive chorus. The classic metal swing of its middle-eight builds into a meaty guitar workout in which Satan constants Steve Ramsey and Russ Tippins split the difference between refined harmonized guitar phrasing and speed demon leads. These guys have been playing music together for half a lifetime and it shows in the lively delivery and subtle dynamics. The clever The Picture of Dorian Gray referencing lyrics and video testify to the band’s ability to balance high-quality musicianship with smart, poignant subject content.
“Twelve Infernal Lords,” with its rapid palm-muted riff, follows in “Burning Portrait’s” footsteps and up’s the ante via one of Satan’s signature moves, a melodic half-time chorus that owes a great debt to classic/progressive rock. The tendency towards time-honored tunefulness combined with a muscular, devil-may-care, vintage mix with plenty of bottom end gives the record an enduring quality; and while he doesn’t reach for quite as many high-notes, Ross’s concise and powerful classic-metal croon is in fine form throughout.
Elsewhere, “The Blood Ran Deep” and “From Second Sight” are short, to-the-point old-school metal bangers that highlight the band’s ability to write efficient, compelling songs that don’t overstay their welcome; and “Mercury’s Shadow,” is the kind of driving, guitar-oriented melodic instrumental that is underrepresented on modern metal records.
The compact hellfire of “Ascendency,” is a vehicle to show off the band’s instrumental prowess and one of the record’s strongest tunes. The punctuated drawn-out chords and harmonized guitars of the epic opening sequence set the stage for a quintessentially Satan-style barnburner. Long-running bassist Graeme English and drummer Sean Taylor even get in on the action with well-integrated, fun solo turns on an extended middle break that never sounds self-indulgent. Underscoring the band’s devilishly good chemistry, the song serves as a reminder that Satan is also one hell of a live act.
With ‘Earth Infernal’, Satan have crafted another timeless record that continues their classic era reunion hot streak.