Volture-On the Edge

High Roller Records
2013

Richmond, Virginia's heavy metal act Volture, who are releasing their first full-length album with "On The Edge", is a side-project that was formed in 2008 by bassist Ryan Waste (guitarist for Municipal Waste) and guitarist Nick Poulus (ex-Cannabis Corspe). With the desire to play traditional metal weighing heavy on Ryan's mind, which was something that was not likely to happen anytime soon when it came to his day job with thrash metal/crossover act Municipal Waste, two former members of Immortal Avenger (vocalist Brent Hubbard and drummer Barry Cover) were also enlisted to fill out the ranks. Ryan Waste had played with both Hubbard (who would eventually be replaced by Jack Bauer) and Cover in Immortal Avenger so bringing the pair in was absolute no-brainer on the part of Ryan. After a 2010 split with Sweden's Enforcer serving as an introudction the group would release the 6-track EP, "Shocking Its Prey", in early 2011. Both the EP and the (late 2011) 7" single "Rulebreaker", which saw the addition of  Dave Boyd (Twisted Tower Dire) on second guitar, were well-received by fans and critics alike with comparisons being made to the likes of Diamond Head, Quartz and even Raven. A cover of "Killer Angels" by Gotham City actually appeared on the B-side of the "Rulebreaker" single which further proved to be a none-to subtle statement as to what direction these U.S. rockers would continue to travel in and just who it was that the band considered to be their biggest influences. Now here it is some 2 years later, during which time the band made an appearance at the Keep It True festival (alongside some of their heroes no less!), and we find that Volture has been signed by the fine folks at High Roller Records. Seems like a perfect fit to me. After all we are talking about a metal group that lists the likes of  Heavy Load, Overdrive, Torch, Gotham City, Scratch, Sacrifice (Swe), Mindless Sinner and Sergeant as influences so you know the band has their hearts in the right place if nothing else! Thankfully this talented bunch can play and, better yet, can write meanfull material. That's two positive check marks than this bunch has going for them. With "On The Edge" we're also talking about a band that most certainly likes the more well-known bands of old like Iron Maiden, Satan and Demon as well as some of the not so well-known like Dark Heat, Praying Mantis and Desolation Angels. As Ryan Waste and Nick Poulos reportedly started things off by first sending mix tapes back and forth to each other (featuring some obscure and unknown bands within the 80's metal scene and N.W.O.B.H.M. movement) it sort of makes sense that, unlike bands like Enforcer and Cauldren for example, the musicians involved with Volture's sound come across as much more sincere and true-hearted. Unlike far too many retro metal acts out there today it's that large pool of influences (everyone from Heavy Load to Desolation Angels) that makes Volture stand out. Start to finish this album sounds remarkably real and unpretentious as if this flesh and blood band had been doing things this way since the early-mid eighties! Even when they tip the scale a little bit more towards HEAVIER heavy metal it's almost more like you're listening to a band that's half Anthrax and half Metallica if, and only if, those pieces/parts were more of a straight and narrow traditional metal act. Wow, I just realized that sounds like it's WAY FAR out of left field, but listen to "On the Edge" and maybe, just maybe, you'll hear what I'm hearing. Man, how I wish there were more bands like this that were keeping the spirit of older metal alive without sounding like a bunch of twits while doing it! Well, that and I do wish now that Municipal Waste was the side-project and that Volture was the main band as Volture is some sweet-ass heavy metal! Volture's sound has come from the heart as you can tell that Ryan Waste and company are really huge fans of the bands they choose to honour through their playing. This one is easy to recommend especially if you get as huge of a rush as I do listening to straight, no filler, metal!

Volture-Rulebreaker

Tankcrimes

2012

Retro-classic metal act Volture are back so get out your leather jacket, come your hair down and get ready to feel like it's 1981 again with this seven inch. This began as a side project for Municipal Waste's guitarist Ryan Waste (who actually plays bass with this band). The band is rounded out by members who have been in the likes of Twisted Tower Dire, Immortal Avenger, Cannabis Corpse and others. So we have some veteran musicians channeling their love for old school metal into a pair of songs this time around. "Rulebreaker" begins with a furious riff and then settles into more standard rhythms. They draw in numerous influences including Saxon, Priest, Maiden and a slew of others. Their 2010 EP "Shocking it's prey" was pretty good, but it took me about of this song to know they have gotten even better since then. This song is tied together very well, I looked for weaknesses but other than not being highly original it's very good. The riffs are tight and the vocals are not afraid to go up high but charge when needed as well. The second track is a cover of Gotham City's "Killer Angels". Right away it's a fine choice. They do it justice and put enough of their own style into it to boot. Only two songs, but this band is quickly getting much better

Volture-Shocking it's prey

Heavy Artillery
2011

Volture were launched just over two years ago when Ryan Waste (of MUNICIPAL WASTE) and Nick Poulos agree to join together due to their love of NWOBHM as well as obscure U.S. and European bands and their desire to channel those influences into their own project. They filled out the line-up and over the next year so they went through some line-up changes, but by early 2010 they found time to get into the studio and record this EP. "Shocking it's prey" seems to rely on the idea that the last 28 years of metal never happened. No surging thrash, no blinding death metal, no gothic metal, but instead it's the early 1980's again. This approach is nothing new because after the retro-thrash fad has come the more recent wave of bands who aspire to re-create or at least just honor those bands who created some truly classic metal between about 1979 and 1983. Volture remind me in part of Heavy Artillery labelmates Enforcer with their love of classic metal, raw production values and fairly high vocals. However while Enforcer are huge on Dianno era Iron Maiden and Kill 'em all style Metallica, Volture actually have slightly more varied influences. I hear some Diamond Head and Raven, but also some more obscure influences like Quartz and Heavy Load. Fans of any of those bands will likely be pleased by this outing. Although it's more of a tribute than anything else because they never push beyond this style that was defined nearly three decades ago. Now I do have to say that while the first four tracks were solid and consistent the last two entries seemed a bit more forced at least as far as the lyrics are concerned. "Cheap Thrillz" is about exactly what you think it is. The music is solid, but the lyrics are liked forced cheesiness which makes it slightly difficult to take. The closer Heathens Revenge again has cliched lyrics as well only this time it's three rate not so serious witchcraft/devil/demon type foolishness. It's not serious, but it had me thinking I like them better when they stick to the metal/basic monster type lyrics which are corny enough to begin with. Still the music and vocals are everything you can hope for. This album is a real celebration of one of the best times for for heavy metal. Volture also gets points for doing a song called "Heavy Metal Machine" because it's only word away from being a great name and it has a mighty catchy riff to boot like Raven and late 70's Judas Priest battling each other in a full on metal street fight. Check this album out when it's released next month and be excited because the band is also working on material for a full length review as well.