An easily digestible brew of Metal sounds based on well-tested recipes.

Is there still any space left – for as much as a single band patch, at least – on your battle jacket? If the answer to this question is yes, you should certainly think about adding a Lady Beast patch to it. The goal behind their newly released 'Vicious Breed' album is to secure this Pennsylvanian quintet a firm place in the Metal world and this surely includes the acid-washed denim armour of its representatives.

'...Breed' ticks all the right boxes when it comes to a robust and rough Heavy Metal sound, one that's largely influenced by the NWOBHM with undertones of Thrash Metal and a bit of Punk-esque nonchalance. Even though this band's hardly a novelty music-wise, the richness of textures and compelling changes of pace show different dimensions to their otherwise gritty and straightforward sound ('Seal The Hex', 'Always With Me'). True to their heritage which reaches way back into the past, Lady Beast indulges themselves in juicy riffs and elaborate guitar solos, all in the best twin guitar attack tradition ('Lone Hunter', 'Get Out').

Keen on keeping their music melodic and their overall tone clean and selective, they're also able to come up with a dose of Power Metal-esque grandiosity ('Every Giant Shall Fall' or the instrumental, slow-ish tune 'Sky Graves'). What's also pretty interesting is that the vocal duties in this band are handled by a female singer – Deborah Levine. This powerhouse front-woman blasts through a total of eight songs on the album, proving each time that the group moniker was hardly accidental when it comes to her vocal abilities.

Completed with a wonderfully clichéd artwork and fitting lyrics, 'Vicious Breed' is an easily digestible brew of Metal sounds based on well-tested recipes. Lady Beast's obvious inspirations scream through each and every note on the album – it's an enjoyable nostalgia trip for every old-school Judas Priest, Saxon or Motörhead fan and a useful introduction for Metalhead newbies in one complete package. Most of all, this mixture of riffs and melodies was clearly brewed with a passion that's supported by cohesive song-writing ideas, solid musicianship and strong vocal parts. You may have heard it all before – but you'll enjoy it anyway if you have at least a trace of Metal in your blood.

Alexandra Mrozowska