New Videeo Released: Steve Blower: Ties That Bind (Official Music Video)

Review - Steve Blower - Back In Hell (2019)

Genre - Heavy Metal

Label - TBC

Track listing:

01. Back In Hell

02. The Whisperer

03. What's Left Of Me

04. The Prophet

05. Arabian Nights

06. Out of This World

07. The Midas Touch

08. Twisted Evolution

09. The Slain / Ties That Bind

10. Haunting Misery

11. The World Is Ablaze

Back In Hell is the debut solo album from Hamerex guitarist / vocalist Steve Blower featuring eleven tracks (approx. 53 minutes) of good old fashioned classic traditional metal. Initially beginning life as a six track min album titled Facilis Descenus Averno, it quickly evolved into a full length album with updated and improved recording equipment and time. Steve plays all of the instruments on this album as well as writing all of the songs and co-mixing the finished product with Andy Firth. But what does it sound like you ask?

The album opens with the title track, Back In Hell, with its instant classic metal riff and Iron Maiden / Judas Priest-esque like lead vocals., giving it a great traditional metal / nwobhm feel. Great start. The Whisperer follows, with its ever so slightly quicker pace, yet more melodic riffs. another great song. Whats Left Of Me is up next, with its speed metal leanings, and the strongest vocal delivery so far on the album. this song just grows and grows. Definitely one of the albums high lights, as is the next track, The Prophet. this track has a darker feel to it, but again it just grows and grows, with some great riff and a killer solo. Also once again a great vocal on this one. Next we have a trinity of instrumental tracks, the first being the Wasp-esque  Arabian Nights (think the song War Cry!), then the early Iron Maiden esque Out Of This World, before the heavier The Midas Touch, which I have to say is my favourite of the three instrumentals. Twisted Evolution is up next, dark and atmospheric, with its heavy brooding guitar riffs. Another album highlight for me. The Slain / Ties That Bind opens with a sinister heartbeat and poignant riff. The vocals paint a very clear and explicit picture. This is a very visual track, almost alarmingly so. The track moves into faster and heavier territory with some Dickinson-esque vocals. A Brilliant track! The albums penultimate track is Haunting Misery, another traditional metal jaunt before The World Is Ablaze closes out the album, another strong track with a Judas Priest-esque feel to it. 

Overall Back In Hell is a great strong solo effort that effectively showcases Steve's un-doubted talents as both a writer and multi instrumentalist, but I would dare to say could have benefited from more of a band involvement, which I believe would have developed the songs even further.

Rating: 8/10

Hamerex - Traitor (2016)

Genre - Heavy Metal

Label - Code 7 - Ix Music

Track listing:

01 - Traitor

02 - The Dark Tower

03 - Dead mountain

04 - The Nameless One

05 - Eyes Of Deceit

06 - The Abyss

07 - The Evil Within

08 - Journey's End

Hamerex return with their brand spanking new album in the form of Traitor, and what an album it is too! Clocking in at just under the fifty minute mark, Traitor is a brilliant slab of pure unadulterated metal!
Opening with the title track, Traitor, the guys start things off with a mighty slab of dark doom laden riffage, that at the same time seems to be uplifting and positive too! Something like the bastard child of a Paradise Lost and Disturbed union! Next up we have The Dark Tower, a song that carries the instantly recognisable Hamerex sound, cool chugging riffs and silk lead guitar work combining with driving drums and soaring vocals. Dead Mountain follows, a tribal influenced slab of majestic metal, there is just something really comforting and familiar to this song. Next up we have The Nameless One, which is quite possibly my favourite song on the album. Think Iron Maidens Still Life and Virus, everything a good classic metal track should be, cool atmospheric sections, exploding riffs, subtle to soaring Dickinson-esque vocals, absolutely perfect! The pace quickens on Eye's Of Deceit, with its catchy rapid fire riffs and rhythm section. This would have made a great album opener as it really does leave you hungering for more!
The Abyss is up next, a great instrumental and a song that begins with a simple melodic riff  that echoes along until the rhythm sections kick's in and builds the songs atmosphere and power until it becomes a true metal giant. The Evil Within is the albums penultimate and longest track clocking in at around the nine minute mark. Imagine Dickinson or Blaze Bayley for that matter, fronting Slayer or Exodus and you get an idea of how this brilliant track comes across, pure unadulterated metal!
The Album closes with Journey's End, with its slower Sabbath meets Maiden like riff, that just keeps growing.

Traitor really is a grand old slab of brilliant unadulterated metal that see's the rhythm section of bassist Marc Hood and drummer Darren Kelsall, laying the solid foundations for guitarist Steve Blower and Andy Firth to build sonic slabs of metal mayhem upon on. All topped off with Steve Blowers solid and at times Bruce Dickinson like vocals.

Vary Highly Recommended!

Rating: 10/10

Hamerex - The Last Ride EP (2015)

Genre - Heavy Metal / Traditional Heavy Metal

Label - Self Released

 

Track listing:

01 - Calm Before The Storm / Natures Wrath

02 - Ride On Ruin

03 - Reign of Fire

04 - Apophis

Hamerex are a British Metal band formed in August 2004 by guitarist Steve Blower. They deal in that good old fashioned in your face heavy metal ala the Paul Diano's Killers, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Manowar with touches of Megadeth thrown in for good measure.
They return with their latest Ep, The Last Ride, which has been available for a little while now, and well is a stonker!
Opening with the atmospheric instrumental, Calm Before The Storm which builds effortlessly into the blistering Natures Wrath. Already only this far into the EP and its evident that the guys are in excellent form!.
Ride On Ruin follows and this song to me has a real NWoBHM feel about it, with its four horse men feel. Some great double bass drums through out together some awesome axe work!
Reign of Fire has the unenviable task of coming next, and what a great track it is, very reminiscent of early Bruce era Iron Maiden. A great song which had me reliving my youth thanks guys!
The Ep closes with Apophis which is a great song with all of its twists and turns, a great way to close out a great EP.
Hamerex prove that there are still bands that are not only inspired by the classic metal acts of yesteryear but are also more than capable (and willing) to carry the torch forward for the genre!
Great band, great songs, solid EP, I just wish that it was an album!

Recommended to all fans of good old honest heavy metal!

Rating - 10/10