by Erik Tweedy
– Columnist —
If you consider getting your head kicked in for 45 minutes a good time, then Meshiaak is what you have been waiting all year for. Hailing from Melbourne Australia, this Speed Metal foursome was the brainchild of 4Arm guitarist Danny Camilleri and Teramaze guitarist Dean Wells. These two slayers of the 6 string have put together a bucket full of bone-crunching tracks on the groups debut release Alliance of Thieves. With the help of bassist Nick Walker and the amazing Jon Dette on drums, Meshiaak has delivered one of the best Speed Metal records of 2016.
Leading off with the blistering “Chronicles of the Dead”, the twin guitar attack of Camilleri and Wells takes you on a 6-minute thrill ride full of massive guitar riffs and an incredible pounding rhythm section. The head bashing continues on “It Burns at Both Ends” and never lets up throughout the entire release. If you are looking for a ballad you need look elsewhere as Meshiaak only know how to deliver track after track of some of the best Speed Metal out there today. Tracks like “At the Edge of the World” and “Drowning, Fading, Falling” are infused with Progressive overtones and recall the better days of Metallica and the rest of the Big Four.
Vocalist Danny Camilleri does a spectacular job pulling together the pieces as each track meanders through the high peaks and subtle interludes that slow things down, waiting for the ramp up to the next head bashing. “Maniacal” puts bassist Nick Walker and drummer Jon Dette front and center with some incredibly fast playing. The combination of these two amazing players sets the ground work for what can only be described as Speed Metal ecstasy.
If you can make it all the way through to the last track, “Death of an Anthem,” without having your head explode, you will be rewarded with one of the coolest tracks on Alliance of Thieves. This track exemplifies everything that Meshiaak is about in 1 song, a massive wall of sound with soaring guitar solos, a killer rhythm section, and top notch vocals. An excellent way to end this terrific debut record. This band needs no comparisons as they stand alone with excellent songwriting, structure, and some amazing musicianship. Very well done from the land down under.
Genre: Speed Metal, Heavy Metal
Band:
Jon Dette: Drums
Dean Well: Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Danny Camilleri: Guitar, Vocals
Nick Walker: Bass
Track Listing:
Chronicles of the Dead
It Burns at Both Ends
I am Among You
Drowning, Fading, Falling
At the Edge of the World
Last Breath Taken
Maniacal
Alliance of Thieves
Death of an Anthem
Label: Mascot Records
Website: http://meshiaak.com/ – https://www.facebook.com/meshiaak
Hardrock Haven Rating: 8.5/10
