To release a full-length or EP with versions of songs of others is nothing more than paying respect to those who influenced your music, and even your life, because everyone has a past on Metal, Rock and others genres. And when we are dealing with a North American act, things become complicated for many to understand, because USA Metal School gathers influences that are hard to check on other schools, because the bands there don’t drink only on Metal fountains of influences. This can be heard on “With Respect”, of the North American veterans of ST. MADNESS.

This is a recollection of songs that were recorded between 1999 and 2022 by the Arizona lords, and it covers a wide range of influences, because there are songs of acts as JUDAS PRIEST, THE TROGGS, Jimi Hendrix, THE DIVINYLS, PANTERA, Ozzy Osbourne, PINK FLOYD, METALLICA, BLACK SABBATH, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, W.A.S.P., THE ROLLING STONES, SAM THE SHAM AND THE PHARAOHS, and Billy Idol. But pay attention to one thing: the quartet isn’t just playing songs, but putting all of their experience to give the fans a new and fresh experience on USA Heavy Metal they play, but without mischaracterizing the songs, because some of them are truly hymns. And from Groove Metal to Protopunk, from Progressive Rock to Thrash Metal, from Country to classic Rock ‘n’ Roll, this release will surprise many. But let yourself be blessed with some madness! It’s fun!

The sonority is very good, because the experience made the quartet learn how they want things: defined and with everything where it must be, but fresh and savage, with a live and organic feeling permeating things (what can be heard when the band prefers to not use a rhythm guitar during the solos). And what very good and fun cover artwork (photo by Mike Wolf, artwork by Eric McFarland).

On the songs, one can trace not only ST. MADNESS history, but the whole USA Metal history, because the older songs are common influences to many and are on the DNA of USA Metal School (as JUDAS PRIEST, BLACK SABBATH, Ozzy Osbourne, Johnny ‘Man In Black’ Cash, Eric Clapton, PINK FLOYD, JIMI HENDRIX, and even THE ROLLING STONES), while the fruit of such influences coming to life (as heard on bands from the 80s on as METALLICA and PANTERA). Then hear and pay respect to “Breaking the Law”, “(Not So) Silent Night”, “Wild Thing”, “Hey Joe”, “I Cut Myself”, “Walk”, “Crazy Train” (again: “Blizzard of Ozz” is a huge influence for USA Metal School), “Cocaine” (this Metal version will surely surprise many), “Comfortably Numb” (wow, this one is amazingly heavy and introspective), “Seek and Destroy”, “Sweet Leaf” (be prepared to some surprises here, as the Country intro and coughing), “Folsom Prison Blues” (if you have doubts about how country entered Metal, just a hearing to this old him of JOHNNY CASH will surely clarify your ideas), “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You” (the weight and harsh approach on this old Elvis Presley’s classic is truly great), “Wild Child”, “Paint it Black”, “Little Red Riding Hood”, and “White Wedding” (these last three are bonus songs recorded on live shows of PROPHET & THE COWBOYS OF APOCALYPSE).

Pay some respects for the veterans of ST. MADNESS and for their influences, because “With Respect” is truly a fun and great release.

Hear to it: https://stmadness.bandcamp.com/album/with-respect