NEANDERTHAL is a four-piece Metal band established back in 2012 in Essex, UK. Despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic and a change in the band's lineup, NEANDERTHAL has garnered attention internationally, headlining many live performances and always attributing their success to the vibrance and dedication of their fans. Following several singles and an EP, they released the full-length album "Rise" in 2022.

The musical influences of each member of NEANDERTHAL rings through this album quite clearly. With members citing the truly iconic veterans of the genre like IRON MAIDEN, CANNIBAL CORPSE, and ALICE COOPER, the first track following the instrumental intro "Destination Paradise" plays to the ears the same way classic metal would. If you consider the members' individual experiences playing in different bands, some cover and some original, NEANDERTHAL's sound becomes even more impressive. Many bands these days aim to land between many of metal's subgenres, but this band's discography stays true to the root genre with crushing riffs and high-speed rhythms. While it starts off on a slower note, the dynamic melodies in "Desecration" are some of the catchiest on the album, reminding me of the fictional band from Queen of the Damned which was a blend of Metal's most iconic vocalists from DISTURBED, LINKIN PARK, and many others. Though among the track list, "The Death of All Emotion" is my favorite.

As NEANDERTHAL continues to push out memorable music across the UK, one can only hope that they represent the legacy of the metal genre, outside of the nuances created by the many subgenres created today. "Rise" is an album many metalhands could easily enjoy simply because it sounds like the music that inspired many young musicians. 2022 and 2023 have seen many revivals of old bands, so it only makes sense that it sees the revival of classic genres.