It seems the march of the trad metal warriors continues at pace and we’ve found one gang of riff-wielding heroes certain to be found in the heat of the 2012 battle.

On Top look like being every metal fan’s wet dream with their classic cover artwork, genre-pleasing song titles and determination to look every bit as ridiculous as their 80s heroes.

New album Top Heavy ticks all the right boxes and after hitting stores in the US last November should be available in the UK soon. 

On Top was created in late 2008 by singer and bassist Jaron Gulino (ex-Trasher, ex-BSOM, ex-Capitalist Death Machine, ex-Midnite Hellion).

A three song demo – Another Night of Sleaze – was recorded by Gulino with session players Brian Davis on guitar, and John Norcorss on drums.

After a few auditions the band’s first lineup was complete – featuring current drummer Danny Piselli (Fisthammer, ex-Vulcan, ex-Coffin Dust) and Quinn Dougherty on guitar.

After only a few shows in 2009 the band parted company with Dougherty and gained two guitarists – Austin Perez (ex-Trasher) and Ethan Ballick (ex-Trasher). The quartet recorded a six-track EP entitled On Top in 2010 and supported it with a slew of local shows.

This lineup of the band was compromised toward the end of 2010 with the departure of Perez and also Ballick a few months later. The band took a brief hiatus at the start of 2011 and returned in May with Gulino and Piselli and the addition of guitarist Alex Kulick (ex-Striker).

Top Heavy is 11 tracks of pure metal fury, four of which are rerecorded versions of older songs found on the first two releases.

The beginning of 2012 sees the band in the early stages of preparing material for their sophomore release. Watch this space!