When friends of mine say they miss traditional heavy metal, clearly dismayed with the more extreme forms of the metal craft like Death or Black, I point them to SANHEDRIN. On March 14, the Brooklyn trio released their fourth full-length album, Heat Lightning, via the mighty Metal Blade Records. Not above saying “I told you so,” in 2022 I reviewed SANHEDRIN’s last album, Lights On and did shower them with much due accolades. With Heat Lightning, they prove me right. This is a band to follow.

I’m continually surprised that SANHEDRIN is only a trio—they have the sonic space of a foursome and then some. That sense comes through all the more with the production values of Heat Lightening (recorded in Utopia Bearsville studio in Woodstock, New York). While previous albums were well-recorded, Heat Lightning hits a new high point.

The album comprises nine fat tracks with a run time of 44 minutes. Thematically, the subject matter ranges from climate change to cults to colonialization to an insider view of the hard rock scene. There is even a tongue-in-check take on the Amish in Franklin County.

Standout tracks are the opener “Blind Wolf,” a heavy hitter with a sinister shimmer to it; “Above the Law” with locomotive riffs and ripping solo, this is one of biggest, baddest tracks on the album and my personal fav; “King of Tides” for its mellow intro which builds to a brutal intensity that matches the lyrical intent. “Franklin County Line” in addition to its humor is also a blast for its searing tempo.

With Heat Lightning, SANHEDRIN once again takes up the banner of traditional metal and fights the good fight. Heat Lightning recalls the glory days when metal ruled FM airwaves, and warriors like Ronnie James Dio and Lemmy Killmister were still amongst us.