TIR "Metal Shock"

TIR

"Metal Shock"

TIR are an Italian metal band that has been around for almost 40 years and yet "Metal Shock" is only their 2nd full length. I remember what most Italian bands were like in the early 80's so I got myself prepared for a brutal listen here. Well, although there are some rough spots on "Metal Shock", I was delightfully surprised by the high energy and feeling of classic heaviness here. This is a fun album to listen to!

You better be ready for lyrics in Italian, though. Only scattered bursts of English appear here and as you might expect, they are pretty humorous, like the way "Crazy Mama" is pronounced "Crah-zee MawMaw" by singer Guiseppe Cialone. Somehow that is all part of the Roman charm here. The metal is fast and robust...not thrash or speed metal, but usually quick and powerful. There's NWOBHM feeling to many songs, but Tir surprises me by mixing things up and trying some really involved and complex arrangements, like on "La Sfida" and "La Luna del Carchio". The guitar work is superb throughout and often veers towards twin guitar melodies in the Thin Lizzy vein. Some tunes like the title track, "Mitra" and opener "Citta In Flamme" are just cracking fast metal. The aforementioned "Crazy Mama" and "Beat 150" are more hard rock in style, with Saxon and AC/DC touches. Once in a while, the vocals will really hit a spot that makes you cringe, but not too often.

The album ends with a pure acoustic instrumental that is actually quite pretty and well played. Above all, there's an infectious energy throughout the record that many of the old school metal bands had. These guys are just happy to be playing what they like and that happiness is transmitted to you, the listener.

Bel lavoro, Tir, bel lavoro!

GATES OF HELL RECORDS

TIR