And again, your Ole' Big Daddy here felt from the horse. It's an old Brazilian saying that means I was getting the wrong idea from the start. Metal Temple's readers that always read my reviews (the ones I call as my dear nephews and nieces, due I'm a bit older than some of them) that I can't stand old skull Dolly Metal clones. This is due a great quantity of bands that are trying to sound as we all were back to the 80s, and we all know that is not the case. But after a reading about

North American quintet INTRINSIC work, they are an old band, a survivor from the 80s, and their music, even with an almost modern sound quality, is an style that was dead until some years ago. But hearing "Nails" is a very good experience. And can become a tutorial of how to find out who is a clone and who has personality. They a band with a style that follows the melodic Thrash/Power Metal done in the middle of the 80s, especially on the United States. But the real thing on their work is the personality, the way they see and play their music, which is done with a personal insight of the style, so it has the INTRINSIC's member life on it.

The sound quality, by itself, has a very weird story. "Nails" was recorded on the 90s, and due the changes in musical industry back then (with the rise from Grunge, Groove Metal and Alternative Music), they had no chance at all. And when the band got a chance to release the album, the DAT tape was damaged by time. They were lucky, because the original engineer has something, and then they could rescue, and went on a crowd funding campaign for this release. And we are lucky, because the quality had an improvement due the modern technique that make it possible. Clear, heavy and thunderous.

Their songs can be said as a step ahead from their style in the 80s to a more modern fit. But don't be desperate: just hear the entire album and you'll love it. But songs as "State Of The Union" (a true and savage Power/Thrash from old days, with a clear and aggressive sound, with a very good and technical work done on bass and drums), the heavy and melodic "Die Trying", the thrashing machine "Pillar Of Fire" (great vocals indeed, reminding a bit work from David DeFeis in some moments, due the more melodic insight. And some very good rhythmic changes as well), and their great version for LED ZEPPELIN hymn "Dazed & Confused" (that has all good elements of the original song, but with personalized insight, great feeling, and extremely good guitars, both in riffs and solos).

Man, I really enjoyed this album, and hope they can come soon with some new and fresh songs. Yes, they are back!

Welcome back, guys!!!!<