In some moments in life, all the rules and models we create must fall. All rules that exist have an exception, that ones that force you to change your point of view and conceptions. And that's good, because every time that this happens, you evolve. Then, the quartet STEREO NASTY, from Ireland, is here to prove that some conceptions that we have about the Old School Heavy Metal are not a universal rule. Take a listen to their second album, "Twisting the Blade", and you will understand what I mean.

Taking influences from JUDAS PRIEST and ACCEPT, more something from MOTORHEAD and from bands of the NWOBHM, they play an old and rusty form of traditional Heavy Metal, with the right amounts of aggressiveness and melodies. But their work, although not presenting something new, is very good, that hooks us due their very good choruses and melodies that are easy to understand. Michael Richards produced, mixed and mastered the album, granting "Twisting the Blade" a filthy and raw sound, aggressive and thunderous, but always taking care. Yes, the care he took was to make the band sounds in a way that we can comprehend their work and arrangements. It could be better, but it is fine as we hear.

Piercing convictions and producing a wild and very good musical work, their ten songs are all very good, but we can state as their finest moments the thunderous and aggressive lash of energy shown on "Kill or be Killed" (very good work on guitar riffs and excellent chorus), the "acceptian" and catchy "No One Gets Out Alive" (that shows a solid and heavy work from bass guitar and drums), the punch in your stomach called "Reflections of Madness" (a fine song with an aggressive insight, very good tempos and charming vocals), the good mix between ballad parts with heavier moments shown on "Through the Void", the nasty and melodically aggressive "Haunting the Night", and the slow and climatic rhythmic work heard on "Twisting the Blade". But you must always keep in your minds that these four guys made a very good album, indeed, with all the songs being good.

"Twisting the Blade" is really a very good album, and I hope in the future that a better sound quality can show their full potential, because they deserve the best!