The Swedes are attacking again. This time it is on the old school front. As true US Heavy Metal might have passed on in most of the USA, it was patched and bounded in the new looks of the newcoming WHYTE ASH. After two years of activity, this crew released their debut album, "I Will Remain".As an old school and true Metal fan, this album was accepted with grace it deserves.
When the sound flashes out of "Hail Me As Your God" touched the ears, it was as if MANOWAR, METAL CHURCH, VICIOUS RUMORS, HEATHEN and REVEREND were on display. How old school can this stuff be? It was like hearing a Marshall ruled production made out in 1986-7. An electrical surge burst just stroke without a warning. Thanks to the idle hands of Tobhias Ljung in Hellgate Studios, this old sound was made into reality in nowadays. However, it is not just the sound who made the different in this release.
Most credits should come to the material and overall to the band itself. First for being touched by the hand of True Metal, which helped them out to write such inspiring material full of melodies, fine solos and undying riffs of cutting edge American sensation. It is very hard to find that kind of bands today. Furthermore, most Heavy Metal bands out of Sweden prefer the touch of modernized elements, besides the production, for writing new material. In the case of WHYTE ASH, it's the American way. Second, there is the band's vocalist, Mikael Monks. Gosh, this dude have a sort of a David Wayne mixed with Doug White in him, something that will blow many of you away for sure. Third, there are the rest of the guys in the band. All of them did a good job with great synergy for the creation of this mighty album.
WHYTE ASH did what many bands did not with this debut album. Even though this album is not a full hit machine, even in the weaker tracks there are good moments to be proud of. The great inspiration to write this kind of music while using such an amazing production, with hope, will do well for these guys. Their stronger points of "War", "I Will Remain", "I Burn", "Shadow Of Light", "Die Alone" and "Hail Me As Your God" should be enough to let other bands know that there is an American old school figure in their midst.
