Simon RushworthHigh Treason – Silver Bullets (3MS Music)
One of 2019’s underground hits, Silver Bullets has finally arrived on vinyl and High Treason’s heady blend of NWOBH power and melodic rock prowess never sounded so good. Limited to 500 copies, the format brings producer/engineer James Patrick’s talent to the fore – there’s a genuine depth to an album that sparkles from start to finish.
Brooding, bluesy ballad Day I Return wouldn’t sound out of place on Whitesnake’s Slip Of The Tongue with frontman Peter Yeomans giving David Coverdale a run for his money. But listen carefully – a misprint on the inner sleeve means the lyrics are a repeat of One Way Life. It’s a minor misstep on a release that’s damn near faultless.
Elements of Pyromania-era Leppard, classic UFO and Thin Lizzy ensure Silver Bullets stays true to High Treason’s late 70s/early 80s roots but a band that missed the boat first time around isn’t in the business of mimicking their peers – this is a quintet with a compelling sound all of its own.
The earworm of a title track – telling the age-old story of a relentless vampire stalking its prey – harks back to the band’s NWOBHM heyday but the Bedfordshire band excel when tapping into their lovelorn past. Locked Outside Of Paradise and Surviving Your Love prove High Treason are much, much more than metal-by-numbers headbangers.
Silver Bullets is gold standard.
*Band image by Martin Turner