TRAVELER "Traveler"

TRAVELER

"Traveler"

The early days of metal die hard. More than 40 years after the birth of the music we all love, bands are still emerging that worship and pay homage to that era. Canadians Traveler are the latest to try their hands at this and they do a solid job of it on their self-titled debut.

The music here is a kind of mix of NWOBHM and the very dawn of the speed metal era, when most fast bands still had clean vocals and melody. Traveler remind me of a speeded up version of Angelwitch or better yet, the band Widow who were active in the early 2000's. First song "Star Breaker" (not a Priest cover!) is a dead ringer for Widow and has an odd "soft" beginning that works its way into something quick and tuneful, with tons of twin guitar flourishes. Singer Jean-Pierre Abboud has a high pitched vocal attack that would have fit perfectly in the 79 to 84 era.

"Star Breaker" is OK, but Traveler gathers steam as the album rolls on. "Street Machine" and "Behind The Iron" are harder and more metallic, with some awesome guitar heroics. You've heard this kind of music before but just close your eyes and jam with it like I did and you'll be fine. "Fallen Heroes" and "Mindless Maze" are two longer songs that twist and turn in a vaguely epic way...the first jumps from mid-tempo to a prolonged speed attack while the second is easily the most progressive thing here. "Speed Queen" is about as original as the title would indicate but again, it's just too pleasingly familiar to dismiss.

Music like the kind Traveler purveys will never have the innovation to make a lasting mark, but it's so well-delivered and true to its inspiration that it will never disappoint, either.

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