Ranger     

Knights Of Darkness

Ektro Records 2013

Finland's new titans of speed thrash deliver and unstoppable dose of metallic destruction on their new MLP.  The epic melodies that usher in the song that bears the same name as the band are beautiful and moving but give you a false sense of security before Slayer/Metal Church-esque riffs slash and slice across your ear drums.  The bass guitar wiggles while the vocals shriek and howl, full of bile and poison.  The riffs are so engaging you can't help but feel the early atmosphere of Show No Mercy living and breathing in the song.  Touch Of Death ratchets up the intensity with soaring falsetto vocals and charging riffs.  Melodic subcurrents are fed directly into the lightning riffs as the song speeds along at full force.  The song never relinquishes its aggression or its catchiness.  Next up is the insanely gripping Steel Dawn.  The riffs shred with rabid sawing and delicious melodic edges that bring to mind Iron Maiden.  The beat just hammers at your sanity while the guitars assault you and the vocals ravage anything that is left.  The break at the middle of the song is genius and really hits at the right moment and summons a flurry of melodies to slice you to the bone!  Supreme Evil opens with a barrage of Slayer-ish riffing.  It's as if they are directly channeling the spirit of Show No Mercy into each riff that spills from the speakers like blood.  The title-track brings the MLP to a close.  A slow, grinding thrash riff simmers until it boils and then more Slayer-ish midtempo riffs batter the listener until the song totally explodes and races along at a sprint until it finally collapses into slow, melodic leads!  Ranger's five-song debut MLP is a well crafted and catchy, yet savage melding of thrash and speed.  You will definitely salivate with devastating glee every time you hear this.  Highly recommended!