Blood Star – First Sighting
Release Date: 21st April 2023
Label: Shadow Kingdom
Bandcamp
Genre: Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Speed Metal.
FFO: Dio, Thin Lizzy, W.A.S.P., Omen, Blue Oyster Cult, Riot, Demon, Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Ozzy.
Review By: Mark Waight
The eagerly awaited debut album by Blood Star is finally here, and fans of straight-up good old-fashioned heavy metal will not be disappointed, as First Sighting is an absolute cracker of an album. First sighting is comprised of seven sensational full-on pure hard rock and metal tracks along with a short instrumental passage that fully acknowledges that Blood Star have arrived on the scene, and they are going to be BIG! You better believe the hype because Blood Star really are sensational, and music of this quality makes First Sighting one of the must-have releases of the year so far.
Blood Star is Madeline Smith (vocals), Jamison Palmer (guitars, backing vocals), Noah Hadnutt (bass) and Tyler Barrani (drums).
Dust off your air guitar and get straight down to opening track All for Nothing, which fires on all cylinders right from the off. Hard Rock never sounded so good!
Fearless Priestess is slightly more mid-paced, but with a much heavier riff that is sure to get your pulse racing and head moving. Speed fest No One Wins is as quick as lightening out the blocks and just never lets up with its relentless pace and energy sapping band performance. The riffs are soaked in a nostalgia that you can’t help but be hooked in by, with a punchy production that really hits the spot.
The Observers is proper old school hard rock, with Jamison Palmers vocals taking a front seat this time and Madeline Smith providing the backing vocals. It is a thoroughly pleasant surprise, and those contrasting vocal tones work brilliantly together. Dawn Phenomenon is a welcome mid-album acoustic respite which allows you to catch your breath and chill out momentarily before things heat up again.
Cold Moon is a superb song with a killer groove! It has a touch of the old masters in the delivery of its very authentic, retro sound, that may well introduce to some of the younger fans the fabulous music style that influenced a past generation.
Penultimate tune Going Home is like opening a time capsule from the late 70s and early 80s, when metal was brand new and exciting. The beautiful guitar solo is straight out of the history books with its chest puffing bravado and skilful prowess. Yet at the same time Going Home is also completely modern and refreshing song too, and without doubt my favourite track on the album!
Final track Wait to Die has more than a whiff of attitude about it with an almost punk like riff that delivers a short sharp speed metal finish to a short sharp top-drawer album.
First Sighting isn’t the longest album you will hear this year, but it is certainly one that will stick in your mind long after your first listening, and is sure to become a firm favourite on your music playlist. Blood Star will be sure to wow audiences when they take First Sighting on the road, and they will certainly be high on my gig list should they visit any venues near me. This is proper metal as it should be played, highly recommended, go check it out!
(4 / 5)
