There are moments when one can think how Metal isn’t fair when one thinks about the value of some bands. Of course no one is saying that IRON MAIDEN, METALLICA, OZZY OSBOURNE don’t deserve their commercial success, they worked really hard for it, but there’s always a band one knows that has a musical value as great as them, but that never was recognized as they deserve. One of these countless bands is the North American quartet ST. MADNESS (from Phoenix, Arizona), here with their new release, “Last Rites/The Final Blessing”. The band works on a trend into an aggressive form of North American Heavy Metal that has all elements one can find on a typical US Metal band from the 90s: intense Groove in some moments, caustic catching melodies, strong choruses and Hard Rock traces (and more, as subjective traces from Rock ‘n’ Roll, Country Rock and more), and some more introspective (and melancholic) parts (as heard on “My Music Manifesto”).

But pay attention: the formula is known, but is done with personality and spewing forth and intense energy in the ears of the fans. So why in the blazes aren’t you a fan of their music? The sonority of “Last Rites/The Final Blessing” is simple and straight to the point, but intense and heavy as well. It sounds as the band played as in a rehearsal, in a total ‘plug ‘n’ play’ form, but taking advantage of the modern recording devices to improve things. It’s heavy and aggressive as well, but defined.

The tile of the songs and the feeling that is heard on “Last Rites/The Final Blessing” is melancholic and intense, depicting a new side of the band’s music. “My Music Manifesto” sounds as a Metal form of a Country Rock/Southern Rock song, filled with pianos arrangements and filled with expressive vocals (but pay attention that in the middle of the song, it gains energy and weight). On “A Time for Reflection” the band brings their musical work into a midterm between the past and the present, with US Hard Rock and Groove Metal elements sounding clear, especially on the guitar riffs and arrangements.

“Biologic Manipulation” brings the band into a traditional US Metal outfit, with weight and melodies flowing in the same proportions, with a solid and massive work from bass guitar and drums (but be prepared for contras of heavier parts with deeper and introspective parts where bass guitar is in evidence). And tribal drumming is heard on the beginning of the Metal blow named “The Blood is the Life”, again using elements of Groove Metal in the mix, and its slow outfit shows the strength of the drums.

On “They’re All Gone” one has a deep and melancholic track, as a homage to all those we all have lost, with highlights for the vocals (again expressing things in a great way), and fine guitar arrangements (the contrasts between heavier parts and clean chords is amazing). And closing it is the quartet’s version for “Wild Child”, an old success of W.A.S.P., here in a heavier version, but keeping its Hard/Glam Metal appeal.

Some songs titles of “The Last Rites/The Final Blessing” seem to be depicting that after 30 years of fight ST. MADNESS is going to glory. If it’s the case, we are the ones to blame for it, and let’s thank the band for their offerings, and applause them for it; but let’s hope that this idea isn’t true.