Belgium's heavy metal hitters HUNTER return with the band's sophomore album, "Rebel Angels Rise". Influenced by the likes of JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, and METAL CHURCH, HUNTER use elements of the classic greats - not least the emphatic rhythms and vigorous vocal style synonymous with these big names - to fashion its own monumental sound. The Belgian quintet produce the kind of heavy metal that you feel deep in your bones, whether it be their smooth foot tappers or anthemic-sounding stompers, HUNTER deliver the heavy metal goods in spades!

With the potent and intoxicating mix of nostalgic 80's flavours combined with fistfuls of the contemporary, HUNTER strike the perfect balance in "Rebel Angels Rise" with thunderous melodies, sweeping riffs, and bruising vocals that blow your face clean off with the power of a jet engine. "Wicked" is an aptly anthemic opener - and one that you'll hit the 'play' button on repeat for many times - burning with vocal finesse that Mike Howe (R.I.P) would be proud of and rammed to the hilt with catchy hooks and earworm riffage. In fact, the guitar work on HUNTER's latest release is an absolute triumph throughout; they've created a world where harmonies and quality solos are the foundation for a very easy-listening record, with a thick and juicy bassline to underpin everything beautifully. "The Forge" offers some gorgeous bass prowess from Wauters, with the dynamic duo of Vlasschaert and Abeel showcasing their solid harmonies and solos in their NWOBHM fashioned style perfectly, and the wham of Walgrave's vocals soaring above and beyond. Whilst the drums can sound a little buried in the mix at times, it doesn't stop Deturck from putting on a great show with his fills, felt with sincerity in the title-track, "Rebel Angels Rise", and complemented by a clean 80's sounding guitar tone.

Just over the halfway mark, HUNTER opt to switch the light and airy tones of the previous tracks for something much darker and a more seething metal affair. "The Knight of the Black Rose, part 2" is rampant with the certitude of Deturck's fills, with the production really elevating his efforts, and the boisterous and bloody "Suffocate" pummels in a much more insidious execution, with an especially poisonous vocal effort that descends into an abyssally deep tone and verges on something delightfully hellish. HUNTER's grapple with balancing well-thought melodies with darker atmospheres is a real accomplishment in the latter section of "Rebel Angels Rise", with "Morior Invictus" powered by instrumental-centric heavy charge, where the guitars fuel this insatiable beast and feed your ears with pure filth, and a doom feeling intro to "Dominion MMXXIII" crawls with an unnerving narrative to match, with a sudden combustion of riffs and raucous energy that marches forward for the rest of the track.

There's a seriously infectious energy that comes with "Rebel Angels Rise", an album that feels extremely visceral and one that buries its talons deep into your skin. Asides from a couple of personal preferences with the mix, the production is otherwise smooth on the ears, making sure that those dirty riffs and biting vocals are at the forefront of your listening. If you love your heavy metal pulsating with muscular musicianship and earworms galore, pre-order your copy of HUNTER's uncompromisingly weighty offering now!