Merciless Law - Troops of Steel

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Power Metal at its best. That’s the easiest way to describe the music that MERCILESS LAW are presenting us with on their album “Troops Of Steel”. What makes it even better are those over-the-top vocals, ranging from growling, to high voices, to hysterical screeches. They add to the enjoyment of listening this for a number of times. As this is a Chilean collaboration between the leader Pancho Ireland and his producer Cederick Forsberg, I am very reluctant to really call this a band. But I will do it anyway, as it makes describing the album a hell of a lot easier.

MERCILESS LAW, or should I say Pancho Ireland, has definitely got his ducks in a row. He is very clear in what he wants, and as he is quite an established guitarist, I can’t really blame him. He hopefully is really glad with the help from Cederick Forsberg, as the production doesn’t leave anything to be desired. The music is caught on tape quite crisp and clear, all instruments are easily distinguishable, even when it all gets a bit hectic and eclectic. I did mention that he is very experienced, but he also knows how to play to strengthen a song instead of making it a case of guitar masturbation music.

I don’t know if the drums come from a computer or from an actual lifeform, but they do give the music exactly the right kind out foundation, together with the bass of course. Plus, the songs all are quite mature in appearance musically. They have body, soul and emotion written all over them. That just leaves the vocals. They are not for everyone. Especially when he is wearing his tightest britches, or should I say when he abuses his very high kind of voice. That definitely is an acquired taste. I actually love the over-the-top vocals, as they remind me of so many records that were released in the eighties.

So, as you see and read, I quite like MERCILESS LAW in general, and “Troops Of Steel” in particular. Don’t get me wrong, this is everything but a perfect record. Even though I like the songs, they are on the simplistic side, sometimes a little too much. The same goes for the vocals. Putting those two together does make them bigger than the components on their own, creating a very pleasant Power Metal record from Chili in South America. And that is enough for it to deserve another spin.

Songwriting: 8
Musicianship: 8
Memorability: 8
Production: 8