Valient Thorr

w/Hammer Fight

Live at the SportsPage, Satellite Beach,FL

Saturday, May 29, 2016

Valient Thorr are hard to nail down in a few words. With a great throwback mid 70’s sound that includes enticing twin guitar leads reminiscent of Thin Lizzy, there’s a great big catch all of references that include Rainbow, Motorhead, and Hawkwind. And what comes out is a combustible, rarified blend of rock so singularly unique, it can only be Valient Thorr.

The band delivered a volatile 90 minute set that was consistently pegged into the red, ready to come apart at any moment. Onstage Valient Himself stormed and wailed, and generally conducted himself as a wild-eyed street preacher whose own existence depended on how many non-believers he could convert. It is hard to think of a more enigmatic frontman. The band was taut and explosive, cued into the direction and drive of their singularly engrossing singer.

New Jersey’s Hammerfight are tough as nuts. Metal without any pretentious bullshit surrounding it. There was a compelling set of solid thrash. The best moments of which reminded me of Slayer and Iron Maiden. The songs were compact with great tempo shifts and tasty lead work pushed against and then locked in with a propulsive rhythm section. The band is currently on the road supporting their new release, Profound and Profane. The band has been together 4 years and they have a well developed sense of self, great thick slabs of vicious riffs and the ability to turn them inward to slip in sweetly memorable harmonized guitar leads. Hammer fight are a band to keep an eye on.