I AM THE INTIMIDATOR is a one-man band from Portland, Oregon. The music they play is classed as NASCAR metal, and seeing how some of the songs have been constructed I can agree wholeheartedly. “I Am The Intimidator” actually id the debut album. Or is it an EP? That is the question when the music doesn’t last any longer than 30:45 minutes. And just to emphasise how much of a one-man effort this had been, the whole album has been written, performed, recorded, mixed and mastered by Andrew Stromstad (ATRIARCH, POISON IDEA). And it has been made with a very good reason; it actually is a tribute to NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt.

After a menacing intro (“No Regrets”), where you are being prepared for the race to start. Well, “Gasoline” does get off to a cracking and very promising start. From the time the drums join in with the guitars and bass, it is the riffing and tempo that remind me of the MINISTRY song “Jesus Built My Hotrod”. Fast, furious, and definitely in your face. Damn, this is good! Unfortunately it is the only song that makes such a positive impression on my ears. The following song “Eat My Smoke” is a lot slower and has more of a NWOBHM vibe, only with a production that is more fitting with the 21st century. Then we have the title track, “I Am The Intimidator”. The tempo is upped a few notches again, but still with an atmosphere of NWOBHM in its sound. The shouting voice does fit the intensity of the tune, but on both tracks the quality is a few steps behind.

“I Am Here … Now” has more of an epic US Metal sound than anything else. It drags along, but it also tries to drag you in. The slower tempo fits, as does the use of a lower voice, almost growling. In just over six minutes I AM THE INTIMIDATOR is enticing you in, but not succeeding completely. If I am brutally honest, the same can be said about the closing song “Crying From The Abyss”. The best thing here is the use of different voices, parading it as if there is a discussion going between the different characters portrayed. That is it, and I can only conclude that Andrew Stromstad has tried his best to convince us he knows what he is doing, but only partially succeeding . He needs someone to critique his songs before he starts recording them, not afterwards (like I am doing now). I feel he would have benefitted from such an intervention. He's not that intimidating right now.