Ignitor Horns and Hammers CD Review

Texas Metal legends Ignitor have returned with their ninth release, entitled Horns and Hammers! For those not in the know, Jason McMaster of Watchtower/Dangerous Toys/Broken Teeth fame fronts this band. McMaster is one of the busiest Metal vocalists around these days, he’s constantly working, singing, touring and kicking ass in general. McMaster is who lead me to Ignitor in the first place. He joined up on the 2009 release, The Spider Queen and he’s been fronting the band since. Horns and Hammers is his sixth studio effort with the band.

Horns and Hammers is another magnificent Traditional Metal release from Ignitor. The inner child in me that loved NWOBHM is more than pleased! It seems like the more Metal evolves, the further away it moves from the things that made me love it in the beginning. So, when releases like this drop it’s special! I get the same feelings that I got when I first heard Priest and Saxon. You know these guys wear leather jackets, drink beer and live life dialed up to ten and they take no shit! Another reason for celebration for me is I hear a great deal of early Manowar, Savatage and Armored Saint influences, specifically in the riffs and I’m not mad at it!
 
Title track “Horns and Hammers opens the album with fury and vengeance. McMaster’s vocals are on full display here, he’s got to be singing at the top of his range, he really goes for it. “Imperial Bloodlines” keeps the disc moving along with that traditional Metal feel that we’re used to from the band, galloping riffs and sweeping lead breaks run rampant. “The Dark Horse” starts out slow and broods for a few moments with McMaster’s wailing vocals and then the track gives way to Thrashy Punk riffs and the song moves along at a feverish pace. “Cyber Crush” is a middle of the road Metal tune that would’ve sounded right at home on any of the early Armored Saint albums.
 
There’s a bit more to dig into on Horns and Hammers, the tunes I’ve mentioned are the best of the bunch in my opinion, but the other songs aren’t to be missed! I’ve followed the band since McMaster joined and I haven’t been disappointed yet. With every album, the band continues to grow and hone their craft. Horns and Hammers is their best effort to date, it’s brilliantly recorded/produced. I should also mention that the U.S. release (Revolt Records) of this album will also include a cover of Saxon’s “Machine Gun”. There’s a video clip of the song on youtube for your listening pleasure! If you’re looking for Traditional Metal in the vein of Priest and other legends of the Metal genre, look no further, Horns and Hammers is where it’s at!

~Black Angel