Speed Metal is difficult to judge in my opinion as the sound is very similar to that of Thrash or Power Metal, but with only little variations of the pace of the song. Blasting traditional Speed Metal in their 2nd full length "Straight Shooter", come the Finnish Speed Metal flagbearers SPEEDTRAP, and they seem to surely put the listeners in their 'Speedtrap' literally.

For the first time ever in my short span of being a reviewer I have requested to review an album just based on looking at the album cover art, that's it! No song was listened to, just the stand out bright artwork that I found on their Facebook page really appealed to me and I had a natural likening to towards it and expected the music to be some good old school stuff by a new band, and that's exactly what the band delivers. Each song here packs screaming sharp fast paced riffs blasting in the forefront as the drums and the clean screaming vocals of Jori Sara aho kept me awake even at 1 AM in the morning as I write this! Yes, call me crazy! The riffs are new and innovative and with those vocals, each song sounds like an anthem in itself. To put it even simpler, if DRAGONFORCE and JUDAS PRIEST had a love child in the middle of a war or a battle, that would be SPEEDTRAP. I am moving away from my usual track by track analysis here because no song is too distinct, even though each one still manages to offer something new and keep you interested, with those fast paced riffs and shreds. And needless to say there are no weak songs here, which keep the album tighter and much fun to listen to as a whole.

Clocking just above 33 min, SPEEDTRAP packs 8 hair-lifting anthems and takes the listeners to a fun old school ride that old school connoisseurs are going to cherish. With members from other established old school bands like HARD ACTION, SKULLFUCK, HOODED MENACE, DEATHRAISER, etc. being part of this amazing band, it's no wonder the band sounds so good. Also with great production and great sound, "Straight Shooter" shoots right in the bull's eye.