Now, when I heard of SCREAMER, my mind automatically thought, "they must be Black Metal, or at least Death Metal, hence the screaming." However, I was pretty shocked to find that despite their name, the group is a Classic Rock/Heavy Metal revival band whose vocals involve almost no actual screams. The band hails from Sweden, like many other greats, and puts out the traditional image of bearded, longhaired guys geared up in battle jackets. They seem slightly misplaced in the modern era of Metal- I think SCREAMER feels more like they should be opening for IRON MAIDEN or WHITESNAKE in the early 80's. Their first album, "Adrenaline Distractions", was praised in the Metal community for its precision and sense of Blues-Rock déja vu. The follow-up, "Phoenix", got just as glowing reviews from publications such as Rock Hard, so I had high hopes for "Hell Machine", their third album since 2009.

"Alive", the first track, tosses the listener into a rolling sea of Speed Metal riffs and a classic, catchy rhythm. Wikström's voice is sheer power and mimics the tone of Bruce Dickinson's epic wails, especially in "Run to the Hills". That song pales in comparison, though, to the melodically heavy "On My Way". The vocals are delightfully varied from those in the previous track and the lyrics combined with the pounding drumbeat evoke a sense of determination. The blazing guitar solo cuts cleanly through the background music and creates four electrically charged minutes and establishes SCREAMER's distinctive blend of part-Rock, part-Speed, and all-Heavy Metal.

The album's namesake song, "Hell Machine", lets the percussion take center stage. Petersson's crashing beats lay down a perfect backdrop for the rippling guitar riffs, yet still manage to shine through and give the track depth. "Lady of the Night", the fourth song on the album, is technically solid, no mistakes. However, it was a bit of a letdown after three strong introductory tracks. The chorus was repetitive and weaker than the verses, and the riffs were simple compared to those in "On My Way." I don't mean to be critical, it was a good song, but compared to some of the other great ones on this album, it was a bit disappointing.

After the slight anticlimax of its precursor, I was hoping for a comeback with the fifth track, "Warrior". The intro is beautiful acoustic guitar, which is juxtaposed wonderfully with the chugging bass/guitar and the epic chorus. This is definitely one of SCREAMER's strongest works, in this album and their others as well, and is right up there on the list of Hard Rock anthems. "Denim and Leather" is a blues-infused groove track with vocals on the verse that are slightly reminiscent of those of VOLBEAT. I enjoyed the wailing solo, however, it seems that the song drags on just a bit too much and loses its drive before completion.

With the theme of varying between weaker and stronger tracks, "Monte Carlo Nights" is an energetic and guitar-driven masterpiece. The riffs are insanely catchy and Wikström's raw vocals add a metal vibe to an overall Rock-themed album. The background noises of clinking glasses and chatter make it clear what the track is about and provide a break in what is a Classic Heavy Metal power struggle between guitar and vocals. "The Punishment", the album's last track, is catchy and intensely similar to some of ACCEPT's guitar riffs on their album "Balls to the Wall". This song kind of represents the entire album in a way, though solid musically, and while it boasts several minutes of Hard Rock glory, it becomes a bit repetitive and the 80's nostalgia can lose this listener after a while. However, the work that went into this album is evident and overall, it's a Classic Rock revival that will delight fans of old MAIDEN or other 80's NWOBHM.