Formed in Düsseldorf in 1983, Warrant were at the vanguard of the burgeoning speed metal scene, adding a technical edge that set them apart from their peers. However, like many pioneers, Warrant were usurped by those who followed and refined their sound for mass consumption. After leaving behind an impressive EP and album, the band went on a lengthy hiatus only to be triumphantly reborn at the turn of the millennium. Since then Warrant have been laying the foundations for the second half of their career, hitting us with Metal Bridge in 2014, and proving good things do come to those who wait their second post-reformation long player, the aptly-titled The Speed Of Metal.
The eleven years that have elapsed between The Speed Of Metal and its predecessor should tell you that Warrant aren’t in a hurry and indicative of this is intro ‘Blood Moon Prelude’. It’s an ethereal piece of music designed to transport the listener to another world, poetry without words it lulls and soothes, before the still is suddenly shattered by the arrival of opener proper ‘Cut In To Pieces’. It’s a ferocious slab of speed metal that rudely awakens us from our reverie, a musical electric shock that electrifies the inner being and demands you shake your stuff. Like a tyre rolling freely down a steep incline, The Speed Of Metal seems to pick up speed and momentum as it progresses and the following ‘Demons’ is a turbo blast of metal that ruffles the clothes and leaves you windswept in its wake. If you’ve ever seen spokes of a wheel spinning so fast that they appear to be going backwards, then that’s the kind of dizzying effect that ‘Demons’ (and, indeed, most of the album) has.
As you’d expect from a band of Warrant’s vintage, they know a thing or two about musical dynamics and aren’t all terminal velocity; ‘Falling Down’ adds a nice groove metal intro that makes a fine contrast to the coming storm, while a surprise cover of The Sweet’s ‘Windy City’ finds the band dropping a few gears to deliver a pugnacious, punchy rocker. It’s a cover that Warrant approach in the right way; it pays homage to the original, yet the band are wise enough to put their own stamp on proceedings and the whole thing swings with an aggression that recalls classic Rose Tattoo. There’s plenty of variety on offer to keep the listener on their toes, ensuring that things never become one-dimensional. Yet, speed metal is Warrant’s forte, and it’s something they deliver with foot-to-the-(distortion)-pedal abandon with tracks such as ‘Salvation’ coming pit-ready and are sure to cause mayhem when performed on the band’s upcoming tour.
As with many bands who went on hiatus and then returned (think Grave Digger, Marquis de Sade), Warrant are currently producing some of their best work, and if you need proof, look no further than The Speed Of Metal.
- The Speed Of Metal is released via Massacre Records on 10th October 2025.
- Official Website | Facebook | Spotify
Track List:
- Blood Moon Prelude
-
Cut Into Pieces
-
Demons
-
Falling Down
-
Windy City
-
Cry Out
-
Salvation
-
Regain the Fire
-
It’s Up to You
-
Scream for Metal
