| Musical Style: Heavy Metal | Produced By: Impellitteri |
| Record Label: Frontiers | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2018 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 12 | Rating: 95% |
| Running Time: 50:52 |
It’s tough to argue with more. When a band releases a new album with more hooks, more versatility and ultimately more staying power than those previous, we take notice. Such is the case with Impellitteri and its Frontiers Music SLR fall of 2018 eleventh full-length offering, and eighth to feature long-term vocalist Rob Rock, The Nature Of The Beast. The album in my opinion finds the group reaching the apex of its songwriting abilities, with founding member and guitarist extraordinaire Chris Impellitteri compiling one of his most inspired group of songs when factoring not only new material but also a pair of every bit significant cover tracks. Continuity plays no small role in this regards in that returning to the Impellitteri fold is the holdover rhythm section of bassist James Pulli (ninth album with the group) and drummer Jon Dette (second in a row).
Not that in any way am I implying prior Impellitteri albums to be flawed; rather the exact opposite holds true in light of the obvious depth and quality to its back catalog. Instead, I am suggesting The Nature Of The Beast represents a period of transition and growth for the group, particularly since its most recent offering from 2015, Venom. Yes, I enjoy Venom as much as any Impellitteri album, but also similar to many reviewers I felt its songwriting could have been more varied due to being mostly made up of speed metal tracks in the three-minute range. Contrast this with The Nature Of The Beast, which while also encompassing its share of short but speedy material is also exclusive to several songs in the four to five minute range and even lengthy as six. Whereas Venom features just 35 minutes of music, The Nature Of The Beast comes in at over 50 in proving the more well rounded and rewarding listening experience overall.
The Nature Of The Beast picks up where Venom leaves off in starting to a pair of speed metal romps in “Hypocrisy” and “Masquerade”. Former, faster of the two, storms with abandon to freight train like momentum, as double bass and raging guitars play dominant roles. Latter is more melodic, crediting to its accenting vocal harmonies, in not maneuvering at quite the same relentless clip, albeit still fast all the same. Prominent to the two are several stretches of Chris Impellitteri’s lightning like (and crazy good!) lead guitar work, which has gained him renown as one of the worlds fastest guitarists.
Whereas the opening two are very good, ensuing is a stretch of several of the finest Impellitteri songs you will hear. It starts with “Run For Your Life”, another scorcher, but better in terms of the stronger chorus hook as impetus slows to a near crawl as the albums title is repeated in portent (and very catchy) fashion: ‘ooh, it’s the nature of the beast’. Also note how the haunting opening moments in which church bells segue to barking dogs reminds me of Barnabas’s “Prelude” (off Feel The Fire from 1984).
Following is first of the two covers, “Phantom Of The Opera” (originally composed by Andrew Lloyd Weber). Obviously, this one allows Impellitteri to put its classical side on display, as church organ and orchestral overtures stand alongside signature elements in the form of double kick drum, shredding guitars and heightened impetus in comparison to the original. Tying everything together, of course, is front man Rob Rock, whose immaculate classic tenor vocal abilities gained him the apt reputation as ‘the voice of melodic metal’.
Back to speed metal with “Gates Of Hell”, a decidedly aggressive cruncher with a heavier penchant in which some anthem-like qualities are delivered, as found in its expansive ‘as you open the gates of hell’ refrain. No, not the most melodic - I like to think of it as ‘lightly catchy’ - but powerful all the same in rating with the albums most top of the line.
Touching upon melodic metal territory is “Wonder World”. What we have is another track to back from the furious tempo although still maintaining an assertive form, buttressed its length by harmonies of an exact nature but put over the top by a chorus in which the songs title is repeated in unfaltering fashion. Perhaps due to its tempered (even if slightly) nature, but I can see “Wonder World” sounding at home on fifth Impellitteri full length Eye Of The Hurricane.
“Man Of War” represents one of this reviewers choice cuts. With open-air guitar to start, it lends a commercial element found in an underpinning bass heavy groove emphasis and catchy ‘oh-whoh-oh’ backing vocals that cannot help but hearken back to Screaming Symphony cut “For Your Love”, either way. Also not unlike “For Your Love” is a run of furious lead guitar.
A cover to the Black Sabbath classic “Symptoms Of The Universe” follows. Credit Impellitteri for staying true to the original in terms of duplicating the same intense guitar riff, but it also plays up its own imprint with storms of double bass, which lend the overall heavier edge. Along similar lines, Rob Rock’s high end vocals - and please accept this as neutral observation in that I wish to remain respectful of the Black Sabbath rendering - allows a greater melodic element in comparison to Ozzy’s mid-ranged penchant. Where Impellitteri diverges, however, is the manner in which it turns the jazz fusion closing instrumental to the Black Sabbath version into a lead guitar shred fest.
“Do You Think I’m Mad”, the groups ode to Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, comes across in the form of melodic metal in similar fashion to “Wonder World”. First of the albums six minute tracks, it flows in elevated fashion to periodic double bass outbursts, only decelerating for a slower but portent passage to give prominence to sinister narration in line with the songs theme. The haunting overtures continue into the darker instrumental moments to close out the final minutes.
If “Kill The Beast” is not the best Impellitteri song since “Slay The Dragon” (off Crunch from 2000) it is a close second in my opinion. Also six minutes in length, the song highlights some of the albums few mid-tempo moments, noting its trampling verse sections lightened by keyboards, but can also pick up exponentially, revealed in the chaotic refrain interspersed with unabashed backing vocals. Each Impellitteri album has that one guitar solo that literally leaves you jaw dropping and such is the case here with Chris’ extended stretch of lead guitar of the most-fierce variety.
Sandwiched around “Kill The Beast” are albums final two expeditious cuts in “Fire It Up” and “Shine On”. Both maintain the rollicking tempos one expects of Impellitteri but also with layers of backing vocals to lend a commercial effect, which I find quite flattering. “Fire It Up” accents an uplifting demeanor attributing to Rock’s enlivening vocal range, and “Shine On” a similar inspiring aura but at a somewhat moderated pace in comparison. Similar to “Hypocrisy” and “Masquerade”, the two are very good but are also on the somewhat predictable side.
Impellitteri, obviously, are not a Christian band, but any project in which Rob Rock contributes lyrics is going to reflect his faith and such is the case here. It deserves mention that in the albums liner notes Rock thanks ‘the Carpenter who conquered the nature of the beast’, while Chris Impellitteri thanks ‘God for my guitar playing ability’ and James Pulli offers ‘all my thanks to God above’.
“Hypocrisy” is written from the standpoint of the ‘other guy’:
Beautiful the angel, who likes to have it all
Cast down from the heavens, the rising of the dawn
Bringer of deception, the bright and morning star
Lucifer they call me, the prince of all that’s dark
“Gates Of Hell” deals with the end of times:
Falling from the sky the warhead burns
Destruction on the way
Triggering the last seduction
When there’s nothing left to save
Chaos and despair are hovering
In clouds above your head
Revelation times are manifest
When evil’s all your fed
“Man Of War” pays tribute to our veterans:
Lion heart and soul, spirit of the bold
Courage is your middle name
Fearless on the front, valor when it counts
Hero of the modern age
Man of war
Fight for your country, fight for your people
Soldier of conscience, you are the man of war
You’ll die for your people
“Kill The Beast” talks of doing exactly that:
Come to me and I’ll set your spirit free
When the darkness surrounds you
Close at hand
When the demons call your name
Face your fear
Kill the beast!
You cannot overlook the inspirational message behind “Fire it Up” and “Shine On”:
In your eyes a fire is burning
A crucible inside
You’ve been down this road before now
You won’t be denied
Fire it up- relentless heart will guide you
To a further place
Don’t you fear what’s coming
Don’t be running away
Stand and face your rival
It’s time for you to be brave
Shine on- don’t you know you should never be afraid
Shine on- there’s power in the heart of freedom
In my opinion, The Nature Of The Beast is the best Impellitteri album since 1994 magnum opus Answer To The Master. On a comparative basis, I rate it slightly ahead of other primes 90’s releases in aforementioned classics Screaming Symphony and Eye Of The Hurricane as well as notable turn of the century albums Crunch and Wicked Maiden. With 2018 winding down, I have The Nature Of The Beast in the pole position along with the new Images Of Eden, Soulrise, for album of the year. That, however, is beyond the point in that moving ahead one must first consider if The Nature Of The Beast deserves to rate with the all time great albums of the genre, of which only time will tell…
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Hypocrisy” (3:06), “Masquerade” (3:34), “Run For Your Life” (3:33), “Phantom Of The Opera” (4:11), “Gates Of Hell” (3:33), “Wonder World” (3:54), “Man Of War” (5:05), “Symptoms Of The Universe” (5:23), “Do You Think I’m Mad” (5:51), “Fire It Up” (3:19), “Kill The Beast” (6:05), “Shine On” (3:18)
Musicians
Rob Rock - Lead Vocals
Chris Impellitteri - Guitars
James Pulli - Bass
Jon Dette - Drums
