When we are dealing with Heavy Metal bands, we must focus on 4 different branches:
- Traditional Heavy Metal from NWOBHM (from bands as IRON MAIDEN and SAXON);
- The German traditional Heavy Metal (as ACCEPT);
- The USA traditional Heavy Metal (band as LIZZY BORDEN and OMEN);
- The modern traditional Heavy Metal (as JUDAS PRIEST on "Painkiller" era, NEVERMORE and METAL CHURCH).

So, stating these branches is an obligation to understand the concepts I (and many other writers) use. So no, I can speak something about "Knock 'Em Out... With a Metal Fist". It's the second album from Australian quartet ELM STREET.

First of all, I must say that these maniacs dare to mix the melodies and aggressiveness from modern traditional Heavy Metal with the heavy and grasping energy from Thrash Metal from bands as METALLICA and TESTAMENT. But the main feature is that they have a small scent that reminds us all from something of the past, without playing in an Old School way. It's aggressive and nasty, but melodic and hooking.

The sound quality is really excellent, because it united their musical aggressiveness with a clean outfit that is impressive. So their music sounds clear and extremely nasty, and the instrumental tunes were chosen wisely, because they are sounding heavy and thunderous, but without distorting the whole musical atmosphere.

"Knock 'Em Out... With a Metal Fist" is an excellent album, turning the band's musical efforts in something strong, heavy and really fascinating.

As their best shots, we could name "Face the Reaper" (that starts melodic and tender, then becomes a storm of excellent guitar riffs and shrieked high pitch vocals), the heavy weight of the rhythmic session on the excellent "Kiss the Canvas", the enchanting aggressive tempos of "Will It Take a Lifetime?" (presenting an charming energy, and with a clear influence from Hard Rock/Heavy Metal from the 80s, especially due the hooking chorus), the whiplashing guitars on the savage and melodic "Sabbath", the abuse of weight shown on the slow tempos of "Next in Line" (with a very good work from bass guitar and drums once more, and again, an excellent chorus), the pounding and hooking energy coming from "Heart Racer" (with not so fast tempos, great vocals, and once more, a Hard Rock influence is present, especially due the guitar duets), and the long and full of harmonic variations and tempo changes called "Blood Diamond" (but keeping the hooking and melodic atmosphere). But the entire album is excellent.

It's a very good band, and it shows how much Australian Metal can offer to the world.