Answer with Metal - Centralia

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ANSWER WITH METAL, as silly as their name sounds, deliver an incredibly entertaining album in “Centralia”. Coming out of Stoufville, Ontario, I never thought I would a hear a revival of the 80's sound today. It’s a classic 80's styled metal album that blends power and thrash elements to it that surprised the hell out of me. I can honestly say I thought this would be a sort of joke/parody band, but I was wrong.

I was immediately transfixed with the blending of the 80's and current power metal that really got me going. “No Ones to Own” starts with a very thrashy sound to it but brings in a more 80's sound to it. Complete with the wailing vocals that made the 80's glam metal so fun. I would say ANSWER WITH METAL is what Pantera sounded like before they became the southern metal giants. I know that a lot of people find the style cheesy, especially in these days, but I had a good time listening to the album. “Wild Hunt” follows suit with starting in a very Thrashy way, but there is a different kind of power metal feel to this track. I love the blending of the fastness of the drumming and guitar, but it still holds true to that 80's sound with the chanting vocals. I couldn’t stop headbanging to this one.

There is an impressive guitar solo that accompanies the track as well. “Stand and Fight” has that same 80's style to it but in this one I hear some small measure of folk/power metal style in it as well. It is a weird thing to me to hear the 80's style, but the style is being infused with more current sounding metal sub-genres that brings a freshness to it. It just seems to work on every level. I also hear some folk/power metal type cadence in “Centralia”, another incredibly fun track to listen to. Coupled with the same Bruce Dickinson-like vocals and some more impressive guitar work. “Don’t Know Why” has an increase in the production value for the vocals, and well, the whole track. The vocals seem to come in a lot higher than the other tracks. The tempo of the song has a very big power metal style to it. I would say it is probably one of my more favorite tracks off the album. I love how “No Heights a Home” just comes in with a pure thrash sound. It is fast from beginning to end, but you still get those wailing vocals.

If you can see past the idea of just pegging “Centralia” as a simple 80's style album, you’ll be able to hear all the other nuances that ANSWER WITH METAL throw in, and I am sure you will appreciate it as well. Give this one a listen and reawaken your love for that throwback metal sound.

Songwriting: 8
Originality: 8
Memorability: 9
Production: 7