Review IMPELLITTERI “War Machine”

Impellitteri is the band of guitar wizard Chris Impellitteri and the release of their debut album caused quite a buzz. “Stand in Line” is the title of the band’s first album and it was a kind of all-star project at the time. Besides the shred guitarist, none other than Chuck Wright, Pat Torpey, Phil Wolfe and Graham Bonnet were part of the line-up. Released in 1988, the album was perfectly timed as the heyday of melodic metal and shred guitar releases was still in full swing.

Despite the tough times for metal in the 90’s and 00’s, Impellitteri continued to release albums on a regular base and with the latest effort “War Machine” album number 12 has just left the starting blocks.

This time Chris Impellitteri managed to get some great partners in crime on board again to record this blazing metal album. Let’s start with the vocals. As on some of the previous releases, Rob Rock takes care of the vocals. His voice and way of singing is a perfect match for Impellitteri’s skillful guitar performance. Heavy and with a lot of power, songs like the title track are anthems for some headbanging. And there is another factor that adds to this thrilling metal album. James Pulli and no other than Paul Bostaph provide a very tight and vigorous beat, a punch that makes every song a massive affair.

The furious title track is in pole position on the tracklist and it’s immediately obvious that this is a traditional metal album that sounds extremely energetic. A dense sound and equipped with a solid kick, the song is a great start into an album that delivers. There are references to the early days of the band and it’s songs like the upbeat “Wrathchild” that are a headbanger’s delight. At the same time “War Machine” sounds modern and has a very compact production. A highlight of the album is the breathtaking “Hell on Earth”. This song is exactly what the denim and leather squad has been waiting for. Melody, a relentless drive, great guitar work and excellent vocals show the beauty of heavy metal.

Another great song is the heavy pounding “Beware the Hunter” and one thing becomes clear. We are not dealing with a ballad on this album.

The melodic metal anthem “Light It Up” has an addictive feel without compromising the heaviness, leading to a great solo section. The finale is another fine moment on an album that entertains from start to finish. Impellitteri’s guitar introduces another track of wild horsepower. “Just Another Day” is a dark and wild way to end an album that is much stronger than I expected.

“War Machine” is a real highlight this year, as it shows genius guitar playing combined with an excellent feel for great songs. Horns up.