During the 80s, with the rise of Thrash Metal to commercial success with METALLICA selling more than 500,000 copies of “Master of Puppets”, a fact happened: many bands of traditional Heavy Metal ways tried to mix their natural melodic outfit with Thrash Metal most hooking elements (remembering that the genre is a child of NWOBHM). And the formula became popular (even lacking a name that would reach a commercial praise), and is still used, as heard on “Time is Running”, the second album of the Italian veterans of WITCHUNTERS. What’s heard on the album is the good and old Italian way of playing traditional Heavy Metal (what includes some Hard Rock and German Metal influences, as heard perfectly on the title track) with the adding of some melodic Thrash Metal traits (especially on the guitars).

It’s obvious that one could say that the formula isn’t new (as told above, it became popular in Metal scene in the 80s), but the work of the quartet is honest, full of energy and based on charming melodies, and what lovely choruses are heard in some moments (as on “Forever Young”). And yes, it’s very good. The sonority of the album was built upon a traditional Heavy Metal model: the melodies and musical arrangements are heard perfectly without problems, so the Thrash Metal touches are as not evident as they could. But the final result is truly good, showing what they’re about.

“Times is Running” comes after 30 years since its predecessor, “...and It's Storming Outside” (released on 1994), but it’s like time didn’t pass for the band, as heard on “Forever Young” (here some Thrash Metal riffing is heard with the melodic outfit of Heavy Metal, with very good melodies and vocals), “Time is Running” (the melodic traits of Hard Rock heard on the slow and introspective parts, but with energy rising on some moments), “Motorcycle Driver”, “Always” (some traces of Hard Rock and AOR from the 70s arises on the melodies, and what very good work on bass guitar and drums can be heard), “All You Can Feel” (a song that has some aggressiveness on the guitars that is hidden under its melodic coat), “Lilith” (the most aggressive song of the album, even without losing its melodic sense), “Words” and “I Will Burn”.

It’s good to have an album as “Time is Running” at hand, and to have WITCHUNTERS back in action. Listen to it, praise these veterans and enjoy!