Pride & Joy Music [Release date 19.05.23]
There have been a few changes in the Weapon camp since their 2019 album ‘Ghosts Of War’, with original guitarist Jeff Summers leaving the band in 2021, and they can now revert to their original name, dropping the UK moniker they had since reforming back in 2010.
Sole original member Danny Hynes enlisted guitarist Robert Majd (Captain Blackbeard, Metalite) and together they recruited a host of Swedish based musicians including Oscar Bromvall (Palace), Magnus Ulfstedt (Ginevra), Marcus Johansson (Deathstars) and Mano Lewys. In addition there are a couple of special guests in Praying Mantis’s Tino Troy and MSG’s Steve Mann. The band’s long time bass player Tony Forsythe also appears as he continues treatment for cancer.
‘Drumbeats Of War’ is a suitably metallic opener, whilst ‘Take It Or Leave It’ is a rifftastic metal banger, complete with a melodic chorus. The drums and guitar parts on this one are a metal delight. ‘Hard Road’ is another fine metal beast of a tune, although ‘In For The Kill’ sounds a bit too metal by numbers.
‘Live For Today’ is the album stand out for me. A ballad with a big soundscape courtesy of Steve Mann. There is plenty to listen out for, from the piano, heartfelt vocal from Danny Hynes through to the bells and orchestral embelishments. Always a sign of quality in any band if they can stretch their musical wings and take the listener off guard with a little piece of musical magic like this.
Weapon’s verison of the Russ Ballard penned ‘Riding With The Angels’ (covered previously by Samson and Bruce Dickinson) sees the album out in style. Less air raid siren than Bruce Dickinson’s take and more like the classic hard rock song it should be.
A new era of Weapon is ushered in and they certainly have given it their best shot on this album. Like fellow NWOBHM veterans Saxon and Praying Mantis, Weapon have found their musical mojo and have delivered an album to shake the heads of metalheads worldwide. ****
Review by Jason Ritchie
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