So what is there in the western side of Hell? That chosen name by the New Zealand based group made me think about it for quite some time. However, when I tuned in to their music of their debut album, "Spiral Empire", via Reversed Records, it kept me going even more as my senses turned on me with a wild manner that I just couldn't handle. Well maybe I am exaggerating a bit but their first album did make me feel good that within some of the crap that has been tangling between our feet, there are several shiny red sweltering roses ready for an exposure and the attention those badly need. I think that the same happened in the early stage of WEST OF HELL as instrumental band. ZIMMER HOLE's amazing vocalist, Chris ''The Heathen'' Valagao, probably saw something in the foursome crew of players that no other decent vocalist noticed and that is their talent. Therefore he decided to join them and along with this aid and their creations, "Spiral Empire" turned out to be an unmerciful force of 80s influenced Metal.

Usually I don't start with production matters, yet here I must congratulate on the fine efforts of Reversed Records' and engineer, Rob Shallcross (also worked with STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, GWAR, ZIMMER'S HOLE and FEAR FACTORY), which made this album sound so sweet and a pleasure for every late 80s Metal fan. The production has modern angles but their weight on the entire enterprise was pretty shallow and almost barely discernible. Furthermore,  WEST OF HELL displayed their appreciation for the melodic nature of Heavy Metal al'a IRON MAIDEN, the old school US Metal and the robust attitude towards the likes of late 80s Thrash Metal, more like the Bay Area kind in the vein of HEATHEN and TESTAMENT. Within "Spiral Empire" there seems to be a pretty fair deviation between Thrash and Heavy Metal yet the band's winning tracks crossed the fine line as those harbored quite of integration between these two great subgenres into several monsters. "To War" and "Faceless The Droids" turned up the heat with crushing riffages, great musicianship skills that applied of a towering caliber, particularly the guitarists that maintained a highly impressive with inflaming soloing, smashing licks and how about those disparaging rhythms ah? Moreover, Valagaokilled me with his assorted vocal pattern that went from raspy tones of both low and high mixed with clean mid range singing. His great ability produced a series of great choruses as if those were made just form him to perform. In addition I can't just let go of "Spiral Empire", "Father Of Lies", "Demon Sent" and "Singularity".

WEST OF HELL say no to all the posers that have spreading filth and low quality offerings throughout the worldwide Metal scene. "Spiral Empire" is where the fist of Thrash meets the quality melodic features and the emotional truthfulness of Heavy Metal. This release truly warmed my heart; I banged my head with craze but also enjoyed a great lyrical line and was impressed by the eminence skills of the entire lineup. WEST OF HELL is probably the answer to south of heaven, however whether it is or not, I will be waiting for the next outcome.