What a fuckin' nice band, indeed. WHITE WIZZARD's High Speed GTO song proved to be the hidden gem when I grabbed Earache's Heavy Metal Killers compilation earlier this year and while looking forward to learn anything 'bout these American prowlers here comes their new EP holding the same title. If seven songs can make you act wild with no regrets, then WHITE WIZZARD is your latest 'just classic Heavy Metal' esteem. Instantly looking for a full album in the near future, lads!
If there's one country aiming at WHITE WIZZARD's music, that's Britain. The melodic yet riff-ful side of the NWOBHM movement seems to be the spine for the quintet's deeds. Think of early DEF LEPPARD, PRAYING MANTIS, TYGERS OF PAN TANG, GASKIN, SAXON or DARK STAR and much more names shall come up to the blink of an eye, provided you're a metalhead raised on this stuff. If you - on the other hand - bring on some early MOTLEY CRUE or RATT influence to mind you're probably right, too. In any way, the sound of the EP is definitely flirting with the early 80s but - for a rather weird reason - I believe that this is not done on purpose but rather is a self-explanatory action.
The voice of Wyatt Anderson is all about melody in Metal, while I have the impression he tries - or that's a natural move - to put a glimpse of a 'sleazy' smell on his throat here and there; and this works, rest assured. WHITE WIZZARD sounds retro, in their own identity and applicable to both hardrockers and classic metalheads at the same time and in a more than adequate level. The instrumentation supports such an action, too, with the dual leads holding a respectful trademark and the rhythm section - the bass lines are quite in the forefront at times - climbing up the walls of battering ram.
With the same-titled video cut already possessing enough Net airplay, let's add that all seven tunes stand in the same impressively genuine level aiming at your sober soul with no regrets. Celestina carries an up-tempo groove with ideal leads and is a give it to me good prowling piece, Into The Night bursts in with a malevolent riff and a 'speed on' intro lead paving the way for a 'sing along' chorus and March Of The Skeletons steps in with a pounding mid-pace bass line raising your speakers on fire. Megalodon sounds kinda twisted in its harmonies/structure but successfully delivers the intermezzo role, Octane Gypsy straights up to the familiar WHITE WIZZARD melodies and Red Desert Skies again is credited with an up-tempo pace full of wonderful themes and a memorizing refrain.
WHITE WIZZARD needs no further introduction/description, in my humble opinion. Full of melodies, 80s Metal-clad, this quintet should immediately head on for the recording of a full album so as to separate any bad thought for an instant joke band. High Speed GTO will also be released on classic vinyl and - while checking out the promo video for the same-titled song - this EP should be considered as a 'must have' for 80s Metal aficionados. There's no chance you won't enjoy WHITE WIZZARD's amusing melodies, no fuckin' chance!

P.S.: Magical guitar solos allover...