Croatia might not be your first thought when thinking kick as heavy metal (it certainly wasn’t mine), well it’s time to think again because Speedclaw are here to blow any misconceptions out the water. Formed in Rijeka in 2015, this quartet have teased the world with two EP’s (2017’s Beast In The Mist was particularly potent) before we finally arrive at their debut long player Stardust. Featuring eight tracks that inhabit that sweet spot betwixt heavy and speed metal, this is an album that should propel Speedclaw towards the biggest stages.
As befitting a debut album, Speedclaw don’t waste time on fancy introductions or elongated preambles, a brief wall of feedback is the only warning of ‘Tonight’s arrival, and it is all the more powerful for it’s sudden appearance. Like a bullet that hits you before you hear the shotgun blast, ‘Tonight’ packs a heavy punch and immediately makes its presence felt. This opening salvo (as with the whole album) captures that magical moment in time when the NWOBHM was in the process of germinating speed metal. In short, it’s everything good metal should be; the twin guitar attack recalls the Smith/Murray axis in their prime, riffing in tandem and unleashing explosive solos which affords plenty of opportunity for air guitar action. Likewise, the bass (performed by Silvano Cosic, who also provides vocals) has a touch of Steve Harris; unlike many bassists he’s not content to hide in the shadows and dictates the pace with some neat runs. In tandem with drummer Dorian Perušic he creates a formidable rhythm section that turns the band into an unstoppable force. Yet, for all their brute strength, Speedclaw never lose sight of important stuff like melody and song structure and that renders Stardust a very listenable album.
Clocking in at just 33-minutes Stardust is a pretty brief listen, yet its brevity is also its strength. Like Slayer’s Reign In Blood, Speedclaw’s debut is an album with all the excess fat removed, there’s no filler or fancy frills (although it has plenty of thrills) and like a prizefighter, it’s fleet of foot and packs a potent punch. This is an album that doesn’t deviate from its roots too much, Speedclaw are unashamedly speed metal (which, of course, is a good thing) and that’s exactly what tracks such as ‘Queen Of The Night’ serve up. That’s not to say Stardust is one-dimensional, far from it; ‘Nightwatch’ injects a nice change of pace, delivering a moody, smouldering number before the following ‘Fly High’ hits turbo boost and blasts off into the stratosphere which makes this a well-rounded listen.
Departing as they arrived, ‘The Curse Never Dies’ is an amphetamine-fuelled closer that brings the album to a fitting finale. Stardust is an assured debut album and one that burns brightly.
- Stardust is released via Dying Victims Productions on 21st November 2025.
Track List:
- Tonight
- Allnighter
- Queen Of The Night
- Nightwatch
- Fly High
- Crystal Night
- White Town Rider
- The Curse Never Dies
