By Martin Elliott
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Many bands have toiled along the fuzzy line that is the boundary between hard rock and heavy metal, and this is where Rattlesnakes make camp. After a somewhat innocuous intro, first track Burn for You leaves the listener in no doubt as to what to expect from the EP. A propulsive rhythm section forms the bedrock for a song built on compellingly tight riffs. A Thin Lizzyesque guitar harmony precedes a suitably melodic solo. On top of it all, the vocal is accomplished, carrying just the right amount of grit even when hitting high notes. Sometimes you just want to hear a band that understands what makes their chosen style work, and Rattlesnakes have this nailed.
Firestarter starts with a riff that wouldn’t be out of place on Iron Maiden’s “Powerslave” album, but the pace on this song is insistent. It says something that while the vocal on this track is impressively strong, it’s matched by the quality of the musicianship on display. A well balanced mix serves to emphasise Rattlesnakes’ strengths as a collective.
A brief interlude seems to suggest something more dramatic to follow, which doesn’t exactly happen, as the EP’s second half is instead brought in with Love Me Harder. The song doesn’t break new ground, although it introduces a nice touch of gang vocal in the chorus and lead singer Rowena is really pushing things here, the track representing a tour de force vocally. Another Powerslave-reminiscent riff starts Selfish Soul off in good fashion to close out the EP. Still more Maiden-worthy are the “woah oh ohs” sprinkled through the song, surely crying out for crowd participation when played live.
With their feet firmly placed in such a well established and beloved style, Rattlesnakes tick all requisite boxes while still keeping their style fresh and interesting. No wheels are being reinvented here, and reactions are bound to be defined by individual tastes for traditional hard rock and heavy metal. For aficionados of the style, though, this is an enjoyable offering from musicians who clearly love what they’re doing. No doubt when performed live, these songs will see horns, fists and pint glasses raised in deserved appreciation.
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