Evil Survives-Metal Vengeance

Heavy Artillery
2011

Originally this album was released in late 2008 on War on music, but now Heavy Artillery brings us a re-issue with a bonus track. Hailing from Winnipeg Evil Survives are huge on early-mid 80's metal including Priest, Maiden, Satan, Samson, Mercyful Fate, Agent Steel, Abattoir and plenty of others. Subtlety and restraint are not tool that this band uses. Now for some retro style bands like Cauldron and White Wizzard I feel like they could use a bit more force and loosen their grip a bit. If you feel the same way then you may take to Evil Survives because they don't hold back. Be warned they go over the top quite often. The music pulls from the above influences but they just tear into and the instruments never stop. The vocals don't fare quite so well as vocalist Karl "Axe n' Smash" Warkentin just goes with his voice whether he is in tune or not. Sometimes this take works and helps the energy level and other times it's just not pleasant on the ears and makes the band almost sound like a spoof of classic metal. I am glad they take some chances and they hold back, but I do think some restraint of maybe more practice may help. I do realize the material is older and perhaps their new EP will see them gain a little more control or they may very well consider their wildness as part of what make them who they are. Still a fun enough album.