Tributes are a thing of honour. When a work of art has the power to inspire a movement of endless devotion it most certainly deserves to be revered. Influences are paramount to any musician's development, and whilst some may argue that they don't make them like they used to anymore, modern day performers still haver a lot to offer... and this is largely due to the mastery of their forefathers.

The Metal tapestry is stapled with the names of pioneers and mavericks (you know who they are) who paved the way for this beloved genre, and it is only fitting that younger generations would yearn to pay homages to the bands that have inspired their musical directions. Of course, given the venerable nature of these greats, any tribute should be of correspondingly formidable standards, and on "Under The Influence" CONQUEST tap into their roots to deliver a truly vivacious offering to the Gods who built the house of steel.

Given that 'cover records' can often be seen as products of contractual obligations, it is easy to presume that "Under The Influence" would be just another lazy label pacifier; but my is that not so. Whilst it is not the most adventurous of trips down Heavy Metal's memory lane, the classic cuts featured in this musical shrine breathe with the life and virility that they inspired upon their initial release.

Opening up with PRIEST classics "Metal Gods" and "The Ripper" CONQUEST send the rev counter into the red with prominent guitars and energetic rhythmic drives that only get more vicious as the band slides into a wholehearted cover of IRON MAIDEN's "Wrath Child" (one of this record's highlights). The guitars scream in 80's tongues and convulse with acclaimed licks whilst Derrick Brumley contributes a superb vocal performance despite the perhaps daunting task of taking on the tracks of legendary soloists in the likes of Rob Halford. The entire band's approach - as well as Brumley's vocals - retains a very vintage sound to it, all the while putting some extra meat on the songs with the muscle of crisp modern production, and whilst the racks may be lacking the substance of the originals they nonetheless pulsate with vigour and undeniable devotion.

Of course, not all songs benefit from the band's treatment. Whist the majority of the tracks are executed to the finest degree, some of the numbers like METALLICA's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and PANTERA's "Cowboys From Hell" - though full of their own merits - seem to loose the weight and edginess of the originals due to the band's classically inclined sound.

The lack of experimentation and strict adherence to the formula can also be pointed out as a major flaw of this record, for CONQUEST choose to replicate the tracks to within a single crochet, and even though such diligence can be credited as unadulterated musical devotion, it fails to entice the listener with any originality.  That being said, the band's version of MÖTLEY CRÜE's "Red Hot" is a blazing hellion of pure Rock 'N' Roll, and whilst it may be missing the Punkish edge of the original, it assumes a feisty character of its own and turns the deep CRÜE cut into a momentous juggernaut of fiery chic.

Overall - with all the praise that CONQUEST shower upon their idols with this offering, they indeed deserve a compliment themselves. "Under The Influence" is a cover album with a voice (a loud one at that) and it has a lot to say.