It seems that time was never a true factor for this band from Quebec. The long living HANKER is still stuck in the 80's, which is not a bad thing at all. Driving with the influences of IRON MAIDEN and old era of HELLOWEEN, their outcomes never seemed to be less than good. "Conspiracy Of Mass Extinction" is their new album for 2010 and it brings back the old sounds and feels of what is true melodic Heavy Metal.

"Conspiracy Of Mass Extinction" was provided with modern mechanisms to make it fit for the new millennium, yet, it doesn't have the distinctions of your average modern Metal release. As on some of the 80's productions, there is an addictive setting here, something that captured and plugged my ears even more to this release. Every instrument here that can be heard and felt properly. There is an order surrounding the release, which will help every listener to enjoy the flow.

As for their material, its old school, energetic, spreading an aura of nostalgia, melodic most of the way and sometimes even sends electrical charges of the known IRON MAIDEN-ish brand. After all those years, the band's vocalist / guitarist, Pascal Cliche, is still bound by the higher notes, although most of the time he sings in the vein of Harry Conklin of JAG PANZER. One of his best performances and the band's also, is on the band's best of hitters, self-titled - "Conspiracy Of Mass Extinction". Through this particular track, this is what HANKER are all about, good Heavy Metal with the veins of the true gods of Metal.

As I noticed on other tracks, HANKER has a good drive, not mainly on their catchy like choruses, but also on their musical harmonies, especially between the bass and the twin guitars. Other nutcrackers are the solos. If you are a true fan of the old IRON MAIDEN solos of the 80's, you are in for a treat. As a proud MAIDEN fan, HANKER impressed me quite alot. Although they are not doing anything new, it is not that a big of an issue in their case, it is the quality here that served and their sense for being classy.

From Speed Metal to pure classic NWOBHM, there is everything here for the old schooler. HANKER's new release is one of the better examples of why it is so important to keep the old flame burning. Although if not handled with care, this flame could turn out into a mimic of something else bearing no interest at all, I am quite sure that here it is not happening with HANKER.

Highlights: "Beyond The Pale", "Conspiracy Of Mass Extinction", "Fire", "The Infernal Depths Beneath", "Battle Cries", "First To Know".