Drummer Carl Canedy is an institution of the Metal community due to the work he did with THE RODS throughout the years, but now he has his own solo project, CANEDY, and he has released this wonderful Hard Rock/Heavy Metal album simply titled "Warrior". The goal? To rock. Plain and simple. And he has surrounded himself with a very good band in Tony Garuba in bass and synths, Charlie Russello on guitar and Mike Santarsiero on vocals. Released via Sleaszy Rider Records, this is an album that you must listen if you want something with a strong old school approach.

The album doesn't waste any time to kick off things with "Do It Now". The riffs are very strong and have a very distorted vibe which may be a bit of a dealbreaker for some people that may want a more crisp production. Regardless of that, Russello's guitar work has some AC/DC influences thrown in there and Santarsiero is a charismatic vocalist, capable of compensating a minor vocal range with a lot of personality. The chorus is gold and a nice way to start the album, but it certainly has better tracks.

For example, "Not Even Love" is a much more passionate and catchy song, with a lot of awesome drum work by Canedy and the band in full force. It has all the qualities for a top Hard Rock single and I think it shows the kind of sound Carl was going for. "Lies" has a lot of instrumental details that are quite good and it shows how talented these musicians are-the whole song in fast pace and flows in a very natural manner. CANEDY is not about reinventing the wheel, but rather present that classic 80s Hard Rock/Heavy Metal sound with a modern production and delivery.

One of my personal favorites is "Hellride" and it also has bassist Tony Garuba on vocals. You have a lot more synth presence in this track and it slowly builds up until Russello's massive guitar work kicks in. It reminds me a bit to later day SAXON, but that's just me. Russello is definitely the star of the show here and his work deserves a lot of attention. We also have "Warrior", which was the song that had a music video, and it is the anthem of the album, showcasing the band doing a tribute of sorts to the genre and to those veterans of the industry-or at least that's how I view it. It's a mid-tempo song where Santarsiero and Russello steal the show, with Canedy maintaining the balance-it's interesting how he plays to benefit the song instead of trying to show off simply because it's his own project. I respect that a lot.

Things get heavier when we listen to "3rd Times A Charm", but at the same time they get a lot more melodic. It's a weird song in terms of structure, but an enjoyable one at that. "In This Sign" we can hear a notorious "Mob Rules" era BLACK SABBATH influence in the band, especially in Russello's opening guitar riffs and Garuba's bass lines. I think it is Santarsiero's finest vocal performance in the album and it really fits his vocal style. One of the album's highlights, without a shadow of a doubt. Every single musician shines here and the song benefits from it.

The title "Out for Blood" shows the band's mindset here: just go for it. It's one of the heaviest and fastest songs of the entire album and it shows Santarsiero aiming for a higher register, which suits the song. He has a lot of charisma and that adds to each track. Canedy also provides a lot of quality drumming in this song, carrying the tempo in some moments. "The Prize" is one of the most accessible tracks of the album and I think it is fairly enjoyable; it actually reminds a bit to what LORDS OF BLACK did in their debut with Ronnie Romero on vocals.

The album ends with the straightforward and melodic "Attia". I think is a decent song, but I felt they could have closed this musical effort with a stronger track. It feels a bit light for a closing track, but that is my personal appreciation. "Warrior" is a solid Hard Rock/Heavy Metal album. CANEDY is a project with a very clear mindset and they know what they are going for in that regard. This is definitely meant for old school fans and they have a clear understanding of how to perform this kind of music. Carl Canedy is a legend of the genre and I'm glad to know he still has a good thing.