Heavy Metallers HIGHRIDER out of the world renowned Metal country Sweden have dropped their debut EP "Armageddon Rock" through The Sign Records and it's something interesting. This 4 track release spanning approximately 20 minutes has all sorts of different sounds to it from the classic Hard Rock power of early bands like AC/DC to the more Progressive Heavy Metal sound of DEEP PURPLE mixed with almost an occult sounding tone to make it a little more eerie sounding.

The first song "S=Txl" is simply an introduction to the sounds of the band, while the second track "Agony of Limbo" takes on a much faster more DEEP PURPLE level of Heavy Metal sound. The song all the way through is very reminiscent of the 70s/80s sound of Metal. About halfway through the song slows down and creeps a bit slower and slower to the end, no vocals to match the pace though the song goes purely instrumental.

On Bandcamp, the songs commonly mentioned as the "favourite track" is "Semen, Mud and Blood" and much like the aforementioned "Agony of Limbo" is an early Heavy Metal song. The song has a few hooks, like the bridges in between the verse and a chorus and the choruses as some cool riffs, but it's the solo that will really pull you in. The guitar solo that is up near the end of the song and basically ends the EP is heartfelt; it has emotion which is something that a lot of guitarists fail to do when trying to play as fast as they possibly can.

If there's any complaints about the album I could possibly have it's the vocals, but I'm a vocal snob. The vocals have power and I will give them props for not screwing around and changing the vocals in the studio. All in all, it's a good old Heavy Metal album that any fans of the early stages of Metal should consider checking out just for the sake of checking it out.