Whipstriker

MERCILESS ARTILLERY

HELLS HEADBANGERS BRAZILIAN METAL MANIAC SKEWERS HIS INFLUENCES ON HIS SLEEVE

Brazil’s Whipstriker is a oneman underground machine with 29 releases so far, mostly singles and split EPs, as well as dozens from other bands he has been involved with.

No one can question his work ethic and luckily the quality does not suffer. Merciless Artillery, which is album number four, belches eight slices of frenetic punk-tinged thrashing metal that never outstay their welcome. The Voivod-esque artwork sets the scene. Titles like Mantas’ Black Mass and Soldier Of Sodom leave you in no doubt. All eyes are firmly on the mid-80s – Motörhead and Exciter riffs meet Razor and early Slayer in a derelict building, get drunk on cheap cider and wake in the morning with black eyes. There is little time for subtlety or finesse; this is metal for drinking and headbanging. No idea what Enemies Leather means but damn, it sounds good.

FOR FANS OF: VENOM, MIDNIGHT,

DARKTHRONE