Review KERRIGAN “Wayfarer”

Freiburg, Germany, is known for having one of the highest numbers of hours of sunshine per year. At the same time, the southwestern region of Germany is associated with wine and good food. Despite these favorable attributes, there is also a darker side. Hailing from Freiburg, denim and leather metallers Kerrigan add some riff power to the mix.
“Wayfarer” is the band’s second album, founded in 2020. Their debut album, “Bloodmoon, ” was released in 2023 after “Heavy Metal 2020″ brought them to the attention of High Roller Records.

Kerrigan picks up where they left off with “Bloodmoon. The band generated the first ideas for songs like the pounding “Blood and Steel” while adding the finishing touches to the debut album. “Blood and Steel” is a good example of Kerrigan’s musical direction. The band plays traditional heavy metal, which, more than once, has crosslinks to the sound of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. The opener, “Torchbearer,” clearly indicates a passion for Iron Maiden‘s sound, a passion that is also evident in “Blood and Steel.”

Kerrigan doesn’t follow one specific genre to a T. Rather, it’s a fusion of a few influences rooted in the ’80s, as is the case with the up-tempo “Asylum.” This three-minute headbanger brings you to “The Ice Witch,” which has more of the album’s epic momentum.

Kerrigan also have a good sense of hooks and melodies. Despite being a riff-driven metal band, they incorporate well-crafted melodies into their songs, resulting in tunes like the pulsating “Red Light Tower,” the album’s finale. This six-minute metal anthem showcases the band’s musical vision and toolkit.

With “Wayfarer, Kerrigan delivers an album that marks the next step for the four guys from southwest Germany. Their passion for detail, combined with blistering and speedy metal songs, makes “Wayfarer” a headbanger’s delight. With such spirit, the future looks bright for Kerrigan.