The rise of the German Heavy Metal scene in the early days of the 80s scene can be understood in two different perspectives: one is the commercial success earned by SCORPIONS and ACCEPT in the late days of the 70s, and it ignited the flame of the scene in Germany; on the other hand, the shocks caused by NWOBHM are a factor as well. Such facts caused the rise of acts as GRAVE DIGGER, WARLOCK, RUNNING WILD, HELLOWEEN, AVENGER (who became RAGE later), and even of SODOM, DESTRUCTION and KREATOR. But German Heavy Metal keeps as it was and is, as can be heard on “Bring Us the Head”, the second album of NECK CEMETARY.

It’s clear that all those acts of German Heavy Metal have a crush on the band’s music, and NWOBHM as well, but the quintet knew how to bring the old formula to the present, and it works perfectly, with melodic hooks, excellent choruses, solid instrumental parts and very good vocals (that uses clean aggressive tunes instead of thin tunes). It can be said that it sounds as a mix between JUDAS PRIEST, ACCEPT, IRON MAIDEN and others’ influences, but worked in a personal and lovely way. But who care for words as long as music is good? And these Germans created a great set of good songs.

Oh, you want some references? Then hear to “F.O.A.D.” (of the album’s singles, a melodic Heavy Metal song with excellent guitar riffs and arrangements in a German way into NWOBHM), “Judgement Night” (where the German Metal side of their music becomes evident, especially on the heavy artillery of bass guitar and drums on the rhythms), “Pet Sematary” (it’s a personal and ‘metalized’ version for the old THE RAMONES hit, enriched by charming melodies and a more technical refinement), “Behind the Mask” (this one will bring your necks to the cemetery for sure, and what good work on vocals can be heard), and “Eye of the Snake” (a bit more into a Speed/Power Metal way, with faster tempos and charming melodies), and these ones will do the job, but all the songs are very good.

The band and the producer Martin Buchwalter (known for his works with TANKARD, TOM ANGELRIPPER , DESTRUCTION, PAUL DI’ANNO, SUIDAKRA and others), and the result is a ‘stripped off’ sonority, trying to be as organic and spontaneous as they could, but adjusting things to have a coherent and solid sonority, with tons of weight as well. And the artwork of Besil Wrathbone is very good, and depicts the lyrical themes of the album: all of them are based on films as “Conan, the Barbarian”, “Terminator”, “Escape from New York”, “Army of Darkness” and others.

Final words: it’s good to hear a band as NECK CEMETARY keeping the flame of German Heavy Metal alive today, and hear to “Bring Us the Head”, for it’s a very good (and fun) release.