There are so many genres and sub-genres in rock n' roll these days that the lines dividing them have become increasingly blurred. And with a huge influx of new bands experimenting with different sounds, looking to create something totally unique, it's even more difficult to categorize a lot of them. So it's really refreshing when you hear a band like BANDEMONIC playing old school, straightforward heavy metal, staying true to their roots, and honoring the influences that have shaped their sound.

Hailing from Greece, this no-frills heavy metal band consists of George Manthos on vocals, Erik Karamanis on guitar, CA Chairopoulos on guitar, Panagiotis Bletsos on bass, and Adrian Kyprianos on drums. BANDEMONIC plays the style of music that resembles the heaviness originated by some of the founding fathers of metal, like METAL CHURCH and GRIM REAPER. With the release of their new full-length album, "Fires of Redemption", these guys blend the styling of true power metal with 80's NWOBHM, and offer a great listen for anyone missing that "garage" sound of days gone by, the days when Heavy Metal was actually HEAVY.

"Fires of Redemption" offers 10 songs full of grit and power. The vocal range of Manthos is vast and he's not afraid to take the octave to a glass-shattering high end. His voice is perfect for this style of metal and possesses the power that would rival some of the "metal gods" of yesteryear. The dual guitars of Karamanis and Chairopoulos bring galloping riffs and ripping solos that blend together seamlessly to add fuel to this metal fire. This brand of heavy metal is obviously guitar driven and this duo deliver a standout performance. Had this album been released in the 80's, BANDEMONIC would have easily become a mainstay in the metal arena. Only time will tell if they can gain enough traction to scale this increasingly slippery slope called the music industry. I've become a huge fan, and I'm sure you will too, if you give this one a listen.<