At this point, you can probably find more than a dozen Heavy Metal sub-genres. Overwhelming or excessive, like fifteen different flavors of potato chips, sometimes the original is the best. That is why it is great to see some out there sticking to the roots of Heavy Metal and delivering a classic form of it like Ignitor.
Who exactly is Ignitor? They are an all-American band out of Austin Texas playing classic Heavy Metal for over twenty years. Originally formed by former Autumn Tears Vocalist Erika Tandy, Lead Guitarist Stuart Laurence aka Batlord (ex-Agony Column), Drummer Pat Doyle (ex-Offenders, ex-Pocket Fishrmen), Guitarist Beverly Barrington (ex-T.A.N.G.), and Bassist Brendon Bigelow (ex-Death Of Millions, ex-T.A.N.G.), their 2004 debut, Take to the Sky, possessed a very classic Judas Priest vibe. From here they put out Road of Bones in 2007, but soon changes were coming with Tandy leaving the band shortly thereafter.
Without a vocalist Ignitor quickly went to work and nabbed Dangerous Toys’ own Jason McMaster, going on to release The Spider Queen in 2009. A great showcase of McMaster’s vocal prowess, since that time the core of him, Batlord, and Doyle have kept the Heavy Metal Oasis of Ignitor going strong. Joined by Bassist Billy “Chainsaw” Dansfiell and Guitarist Robert Williams in 2015, the band has put out one killer album after enough; from 2017’s Haunted By Rock & Roll to the recently released Horns and Hammers.
Their eighth overall studio album, Horns and Hammers arrived on October 12, 2024, after being recorded back in 2019. Available for purchase on Bandcamp via Metal on Metal Records, and in the U.S. on www.revoltvinylrecords.com, it can also be had on CD or vinyl through Revolt Vinyl Records. A long overdue return, especially if you heard the extremely impressive 2020 album The Golden Age of Black Magick, Horns and Hammers offers more blistering classic Heavy Metal. As stated, again led by McMaster on vocals, his presence is exceptional, and it stands to reason if you know his work with Dangerous Toys.
Concentrating on McMaster a bit more, Dangerous Toys fans know his more raspy Hard Rock tone, but with Ignitor he takes on a different sound that marries the power of legends like Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson, Lizzy from Lizzy Borden, or Grim Reaper’s Steve Grimmett. Fantastic to hear, there is an energy behind McMaster’s performance on each of his albums with Ignitor, but it seems even more pronounced with Horns and Hammers.
With this in mind, the guitar work of Batlord is absolutely sensation, and he and Ignitor channel the best vibes of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal into each song. Featuring eleven songs, ten original, and a really strong cover of Saxon’s 1980 classic “Machine Gun,” Horns and Hammers has the feel and attack of a classic Heavy Metal record that may have been recorded back in 1986.
Perfect if you love the pace, emotion, and power of great records from back in the day from bands like Iron Maiden, Tygers of Pan Tang, Raven, or Cloven Hoof, Ignitor’s Horns and Hammers could be one of the best pure Heavy Metal records of 2024. From the speed of the opening title-track, “Taking up with Serpents” and “Imperial Bloodlines,” to the gloomy “Dark Horse” and epic “Ferocious the Martyrs,” there is no moment of boredom on this album. It is highly recommend Ignitor, and if you are new to them, Horns and Hammers is a great place to start, because Cryptic Rock gives it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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