For nearly four decades,
Rob Halford
has been one of the most influential singers in
metal
, and ever since he formed his band
Halford
, he's had a pretty easy time reminding the world why. On
Halford IV: Made of Metal
, the
god and company once again unleash an album of classic,
New Wave of British Heavy Metal
-influenced goodness for
fans to devour. Kicking off with the galloping aggression of
"Undisputed,"
Made of Metal
quickly establishes itself as an album that's not satisfied with being merely driving, but aims to be empowering. Tracks like
"Thunder and Lightning"
and
"Like There's No Tomorrow"
wouldn't feel out of place in an action movie training montage, painting a picture of a protagonist steeling himself as he prepares to do the impossible. While songs like the odd
country
/
ditty
"Till the Day I Die"
and piano heavy power ballad
"Twenty-Five Years"
offer slight diversions from the old-school intensity,
largely to sticks to what it's best at: straight-ahead
heavy metal
. Once again,
shows that sometimes the old ways are the best ways with an album of what is essentially
comfort food, a biting sonic reminder of the glory days of the
NWOBHM
movement that takes that classic sound and adds enough new ingredients to make it feel fresh. ~ Gregory Heaney